A recent study investigating the origins and transmission of the COVID-19 virus has identified white-tailed deer as a potential reservoir for the virus. The study observed several cases of infection with the virus in this species of deer in Ohio, USA. Researchers at Ohio State University discovered that the virus continues to spread among this type of deer and then re-emerges in humans, with its genetic makeup rapidly evolving within these animals.
According to a research paper published in the scientific journal "Nature," the scientists collected 1,522 nasal swabs from free-ranging white-tailed deer in Ohio between November 2021 and March 2022, finding that over 10% of the samples tested positive for the novel coronavirus. By analyzing the virus's genetic material, the researchers concluded that at least 30 instances of these infections in deer originated from humans.
The study also reported that deer do not become ill from the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the same way humans do, showing that the deer could carry the SARS-CoV-2 virus for up to 6 to 9 months, which may explain transmission from one animal to another. The study concluded that if deer represent a significant host for the virus, they could pose a threat to humans, as they provide SARS-CoV-2 with another opportunity to replicate and generate mutations.
The study results indicate that the spread of COVID-19 among humans and animals is occurring more frequently than initially assumed, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and global response efforts to control the virus.
