Covid: Sniffer dogs could bolster screening at airports
 

Sniffer dogs could contribute to efforts to prevent the spread of Covid as society reopens, according to scientists.

As part of a trial, dogs were trained to recognise a distinctive odour produced by people with the virus, but undetectable to the human nose.
Recent research has shown dogs - particularly breeds like spaniels and retrievers - can detect the unique scents of diseases including cancer, Parkinson's and malaria.
As part of the current canine screening trial, six dogs were trained to recognise the smell produced by people with Covid-19 using worn socks, face masks and t-shirts of various materials.

BBC web news

The olfactory capabilities of our canine friends is truly remarkable (not to mention all their other senses), but I wonder if it's possible for the dogs to become infected and suffer the effects themselves, or more likely become carriers and add another vector of infection to non-infected persons ?

SpringHeeledJack I do like the combination of British admiration for our canine friends - coupled with a dire warning! :ok: Does your name mean that you are a Jack Russel or a Springer? :}

Probably not, I don't know the body temp of a doggy but generally, viruses etc can only survive in a specific range of temps. So, for a virus to jump species, the body temps of the animals needs to be very similar.

I'm a pedigree mutt ;-)

Weren't there cases of cats 'getting' covid (carrying it on their face and fur) and then transferring it onto their human family ? I also remember reading early on in 2020 that dog-walkers were advised not to let their dogs off the lead to come into contact with other people etc, who if infected could then transfer covid onto their walkers through facial/hand contact. Perhaps these methods of spread have since been proven to not be of concern and I was behind the bike sheds having a crafty smaoke and missed the announcement :-)

As long as you don't try to smoke in the toilets on board ...

"Weren't there cases of cats 'getting' covid (carrying it on their face and fur) and then transferring it onto their human family " - one or two in several million cases of transmission............. nothing to worry about cp a large security guy on minimum wage coughing all over you