The U.S. Department of Agriculture found a wild mink with COVID-19 in Utah in December 2020. It may have picked the disease up from animals at a local mink farm. National Geographic noted evidence of mink-human transfers in Denmark in the November 2020 mink-farm outbreak. The COVID human-animal link continues to be a matter of deep interest to scientists.
Could This Bring the SARS-CoV-2 Tale Full Circle?
Springer’s Nature journal is concerned the coronavirus could jump across from humans to animals. For if it did, it might wait there while it mutates, and then return to us after we thought we had it licked. This would then bring the SARS-CoV-2 tale full cycle, in terms of the theory it originated in animals, arguably bats.
Thousands of new daily infections worldwide could be adding to this stockpile in free-roaming wild creatures. There’s evidence of it cropping up in domesticated and captive creatures too. The virus has appeared in cats and dogs, and even pumas, gorillas and snow leopards in zoos.
The COVID Human-Animal Link at Home and in The Wild
Outbreaks among domestic and farm animals are easier to control, because we can quarantine them, and euthanize them if unavoidable. However, a spill-over into wild animals would be another matter. The Springer Nature journal reports tests of animals from homes, zoos, shelters, veterinary clinics, farms and their surroundings.
Infections are rare, but reported to World Health Organization for coordinated analysis. The focus is on animals genetically closer to people, where the COVID human-animal link may be stronger. But it also extends to sociable animals that favor large groups.
Much of this work is out of an abundance of caution. However, free-roaming cats and dogs are a potential pathway. The Springer Nature journal recommends treating pets like family members. This includes keeping them away from infected people at home. And not allowing them to interact with humans outside the household.
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Preview Image: A Couple with Their Pet Dog
