On Sept. 24, 2021, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announced confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 in a ferret in Florida.

This was the first ferret confirmed with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the United States. A ferret was previously reported with the virus in Slovenia.

USDA officials said samples from the Florida ferret were tested after the animal showed symptoms that included sneezing and coughing. Officials believe the ferret acquired the infection from a person with COVID-19.