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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has issued a statement over the spread of COVID-19.

While there is ongoing speculation on the likely animal origin of the novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2), to date, the spread and development of the current human epidemic is due to human-to-human transmission, FAO said.

Its key messages included: 

• There is no current evidence of dogs playing a role in the spread of COVID-19. As a general practice, when caring for any kind of animals, always wash your hands before and after you interact with them.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is the authority and primary source of information regarding the human health aspects of this outbreak.

• Meat from healthy livestock that is cooked thoroughly remains safe to eat.

• People should not handle, slaughter, dress, sell, prepare or consume meat that originates from wild animals or livestock that are sick or that have died from unknown causes. Raw wild meat or uncooked dishes based on the blood of wild animals should not be consumed. These practices place people at high risk of contracting any number of infections.

• Any unusual morbidity or mortality of animals should be reported to the animal health authorities.

• FAO is fully engaged in the multisectoral coordination at the national, regional and international levels through the activation of an FAO Incident Coordination Group.

• FAO is working with partners to assist member countries and research communities in identifying potential animal hosts of this virus and reduce spillover events to humans.