News

SEE: https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20211221/should-we-worry-about-animals-with-covid19

By Dan Teres, MD

     Diana Stone, MPH, DVM, PhD

     Martin Strosberg, MPH, PhD

Conclusions: The animal-human interface

The likelihood of zoonotic transmission from animal to human of a mutant SARS-CoV-2 strain is unclear. What is clear is that we need to encourage and support surveillance and monitoring of both domestic and wild animals, which includes genetic sequencing. Furthermore, we need to ensure that there is adequate funding for responsible national and international organizations. We would do well to adopt a One Health approach, which advocates for increased collaboration between the veterinary world and the human medical world in the face of accelerating urbanization, climate change, ecological degradation and increasing interaction between humans and animals. The best way to prevent animal infections is to vaccinate the main reservoir — humans. In the meantime, let’s hold our breath!