The Hong Kong government has decided to eliminate all imported hamsters in its territory today, after a dozen hamsters imported from the Netherlands by a chain of stores called Little Boss were found to be infected with the corona delta virus, a mutation that has not been detected in the area for months.
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The story begins with an employee of a pet store who was found to be positive for the virus, who also infected one of his customers.
Following this, an examination was made of how the mutation had returned to the provinces of Hong Kong, and the investigation revealed that it originated in those Dutch hamsters.
The delta virus was also discovered in the chain's warehouse, which was located in another part of the city.
Activist for Chong's Animals, and Hamster "Ring", Photo: AFP
After identification and diagnosis, the authorities made a number of very dramatic decisions.
The first decision was to close all pet stores that sell hamsters - 34 stores in number.
No fewer than a hundred shoppers who visited Little Boss stores were sent to an official regime closure camp.
The hamster buyers were called back for extermination, and were also required to arrive at the quarantine camp for a stay of several days.
In addition, there is a total ban on the import of hamsters, as well as chinchillas and rabbits.
The estimated number of pets that will be destroyed is about two thousand animals.
It should be noted that the much caution taken in Hong Kong regarding the import of pets comes even though there is no evidence that the corona virus can be passed from hamsters to humans.
That fact was also acknowledged by Sophia Chan, the region's secretary of health and food, who admitted at the briefing that "there is no evidence that the virus passes from hamsters to humans, but we take caution against every possible path of corona penetration, in order to protect itself as much as possible."
The infected animals are being evacuated from stores in Hong Kong, Photo: REUTERS
One who supports the authorities' sharp move is Klaus Ostrider, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, who claimed that "it seems like a shocking move, but it is a smart move, even if the chances of infection are low."
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