Animal welfare activists on Saturday said pets like dogs and cats can contract the coronavirus so they should be kept away from gatherings. Pets should also be kept away from Holi colours as a precautionary measure, experts said.

The activists also expressed concern over cross-border movement of animals and urged the Assam government to take necessary steps.

The case of a coronavirus-affected patient’s pet dog that tested positive recently grabbed global attention. “Pouring wet colours on pets must be avoided. People who are suffering from flu or any other ailments should avoid being near to the animals. A veterinarian’s advice should be sought if changes in a pet’s health conditions are detected,” said Devajit Moran, secretary of the Green Bud Society, an NGO, and a wildlife worker in Upper Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh.

“Apart from maintaining good hygiene practices, pet owners should not panic or abandon their pets under no circumstances,” he added.

According to reports, a pet dog belonging to a woman with coronavirus contracted a “low-level infection from its owner in China”.

“We are not sure how well Assam’s veterinary, animal husbandry and wildlife conservation departments are equipped to tackle the spread of the virus,” Moran said.

Centres for disease control and prevention have recommended that people with the virus should allow someone else to take care of their pets and hands should be washed after petting animals.

Sunil Barua, secretary of the Animal Welfare Organization, said: “There is no evidence so far that animals can transmit the disease to humans.”

Several other animal welfare charity groups and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals have also urged people to take care of animals so that they remain safe from the virus attack.

“If people are worried about their pets contracting the virus they should seek advice from veterinarians,” an expert said.