Covid-19: Hong Kong orders cull of 2,000 hamsters after coronavirus hits pets

Hong Kong ordered a cull of 2,000 hamsters on Tuesday and warned pet owners not to kiss animals after a new cluster of Covid-19 cases was traced to a pet shop.

The outbreak of Delta variant cases in humans linked to the shop worker prompted tests on hundreds of animals, with 11 hamsters showing up positive.

That has brought a pet rodent clampdown on Chinese-ruled Hong Kong, which is following the mainland's zero-tolerance approach to Covid-19 even as much of the world shifts to living with it.

The territory's Health Secretary Sophia Chan stressed at a news conference that there was no evidence domestic animals can pass the disease to humans, but authorities were anyway acting out of caution to ban imports and sales of pet rodents.

"Pet owners should keep a good hygiene practice, including washing hands after touching the animals, handling their food or other items, and avoid kissing the animals," Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department director Leung Siu-fai Leung also told reporters.

"If citizens are raising hamsters, they should keep them at home. Do not bring them out."

HAMSTER HOTLINE

Hundreds of samples were collected from animals also including rabbits and chinchillas, but only the hamsters have tested positive so far.

"To be careful, we will take preventive measures against any transmission possibilities that we cannot rule out," said Chan.

A hotline for Covid-19 enquiries related to hamsters is also being set up.