Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => COVID-19 => Topic started by: EvaH on 22/03/2021 15:36:02

Title: Can COVID be transmitted by birds and animals?
Post by: EvaH on 22/03/2021 15:36:02

Malcolm asks:

Is there any evidence that Covid could be transmitted by birds and animals, bearing in mind the past foot and mouth epidemic?

Can you help?

Title: Re: Can COVID be transmitted by birds and animals?
Post by: evan_au on 23/03/2021 09:36:09

Yes, a number of species are susceptible to the SAR-COV2 virus
- Bats (believed to be the source species)
- A number of monkey species (similar genetics to humans)
- Mink & Ferrets. There was major culling of mink in Europe, after farmed mink transmitted the virus back to humans.
- Cats (including the big cats)

So, yes, SARS-COV2 does have animal reservoirs, which will make it harder to control.
- To achieve herd immunity, we may need to vaccinate the cat population as well as the human population(?)
- For now, "success" means "just like the common cold". ie, it keeps coming back, but it rarely kills anyone any more.

See: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/animals.html