COVID-19 Outbreak Information Updates (Reboot) [over 150.000,000 US cases (est.), 6,422,520 US hospitilizations, 1,148,691 US deaths.]

HONG KONG — Hong Kong has asked pet shops and owners to hand over close to 2,000 hamsters for culling by authorities, after 11 of the small rodents tested positive for the coronavirus in a pet shop.

The territory has also suspended the import of small animals.
Authorities announced the decision Tuesday after the city’s health experts found two groups of hamsters, which originated from the Netherlands and arrived in Hong Kong on Dec. 22 and Jan. 7, to be “high-risk” for carrying the coronavirus.

The hamsters turned over by pet owners will be killed to “cut the transmission chain,” health officials said.


“Evidence shows that the hamsters are infected with the COVID-19 virus. It is impossible to quarantine and observe each of them and their incubation period could be long,” said Leung Siu-fai, director of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department……..

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/18/covid-hong-kong-hamsters/