FAO has prepared this document at the request of Members in order to provide information for communications with livestock professionals (including farmers, producers, veterinarians, para veterinarians, community animal health workers). It is recommended to use this
information to provide practical guidance on how to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus causing COVID-19), spreading between humans and animals in a farm setting, given that some animal species have shown to be susceptible to the virus.
The current spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is primarily due to human-to-human transmission. Infection of susceptible animal species with SARS-CoV-2 has occurred mostly after they were in contact with infected humans, with or without signs of disease. As such, infections in animals have generally been found through contact tracing following confirmation of COVID-19 human cases.
