Attempted Poisoning of Pets in Lebanon Due to Fake News Claiming Dogs Transmit COVID-19

Attempt to Lure and Kill Dogs with Poisoned or Rat Poison-Coated Food
US CDC: "No Evidence of COVID-19 Transmission from Dogs or Cats to Humans"

On January 28, when concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus infection were still ongoing, a dog was wearing a mask at Pyeongtaek Port International Passenger Terminal in Poseung-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] In Lebanon, attempts to poison dogs are increasing in an effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This is reported to have occurred after a local broadcast stated that "dogs act as carriers spreading the COVID-19 virus."

On the 1st (local time), according to Middle Eastern media, animal protection activists in Lebanon have been posting photos and videos on social networks (SNS) showing dogs suffering after ingesting poison.

They stated, "After a local report claimed that dogs are carriers of COVID-19, people who believe this have been frequently abandoning their pet dogs," adding, "Not only that, some residents have been attempting to kill dogs and cats by luring them with food coated with poison or rodenticide."

Animal protection activist Joe Malouf also tweeted, "Some ignorant people, ignoring the World Health Organization's recommendations, placed meat coated with poison on the streets to kill dogs," and "Poison-coated chunks of meat have even been found in the gardens or terraces of homes with dogs."

The report was made by the local media 'Lebanon MTV' on the 28th of last month. On that day, the media posted a video on its homepage claiming that "pets such as dogs and cats can transmit COVID-19," but after receiving a flood of protests from netizens stating the content was baseless, the article was deleted.

So far, experts consider the possibility of pets transmitting COVID-19 to humans to be low. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated on its official website in the 'COVID-19 Guide' that "Currently, there is no evidence that dogs or cats can transmit COVID-19 to people."