FAO: NO EVIDENCE THAT ANIMALS CAN TRANSMIT THE CORONAVIRUS TO HUMANS
Press release... Since the beginning of the global COVID-19 outbreak, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been collaborating closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to assist member countries identify potential animal hosts of this virus and reduce spillover events to humans. Investigations to understand the epidemiology of COVID-19 and the involvement of animals as a virus reservoir or intermediate hosts are ongoing. At this point in time, however, the highest risk of COVID-19 spread is through human-to-human transmission. Thus, WHO is the authority and primary source of information regarding the human health aspects of this outbreak. FAO is continuously monitoring and sharing information on the disease situation globally and is coordinating prevention, preparedness and detection activities in animals in liaison with WHO and OIE using the One Health approach. There is no evidence of the invol...