# Suspected Human-to-Cat Spillover of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant in South Korea

## TL;DR

A cat in South Korea likely caught the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 directly from a human, highlighting the need to monitor the virus in animals.

## Contribution

Evidence of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea.

## Key findings

- A cat was found to be infected with the Omicron variant (BA.1) of SARS-CoV-2.
- The infection coincided with the global emergence of Omicron in early 2022.
- The case suggests direct human-to-cat transmission during the variant's widespread circulation.

## Abstract

This retrospective study reports the isolation and characterization of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from a household cat in South Korea. The cat, which was presented with respiratory symptoms, was identified during a retrospective analysis of samples collected between April 2021 and March 2022. Genomic sequencing revealed that the isolated virus belonged to the Omicron variant (BA.1), coinciding with its global emergence in early 2022. This case study provides evidence for the potential of direct human-to-cat transmission of the Omicron variant in South Korea during its period of widespread circulation. Our findings underscore the importance of continuous monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 in both human and animal populations to track viral evolution and potential spillover events.