Deer in the USA infected with Covid-19

The finding that deer have been exposed to Covid-19 is not unexpected, as white-tailed deer are susceptible to the virus.

According to a study, 40% of North American deer — which tend to congregate near human settlements — are infected with SARS-CoV-2.Deer could have become a new reservoir for the pandemic virus.

The white-tailed deer is found from southern Canada to Peru and northern Brazil. In the United States alone, there are said to be 30 million of them. They are less shy than their European relatives.

The blood samples came from wild animals in the states of Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania — meaning this is not a localised outbreak. The virus appears to have spread undetected among the deer population.

These are the first deer in the world in which the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been detected, indicating they have apparently undergone an infection.

The wildlife showed no symptoms of infection, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

We do not know how the deer were exposed to SARS-CoV-2. They may have been exposed through people, flowing water, the environment, other deer, or another animal species.

USDA spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole

The USDA has previously reported COVID-19 in animals such as dogs, cats, tigers, lions, snow leopards, otters, gorillas, and mink. According to the USDA, most animal infections have been reported in animals that had close contact with a person with COVID-19.

According to the USDA, it is important that people who suspect or have confirmed COVID-19 avoid contact with pets and other animals in order to protect them from possible infection.

Considerations for hobby hunters

1. There are currently no indications that red deer could be a source of infection for humans. However, it is known that some wildlife species are susceptible to infection. Some non-native wild animals, including big cats and non-human primates, have become infected in captivity, for example in zoos.
2. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through the preparation or consumption of food, including meat from wild animals hunted in this country.However, hobby hunters can contract many other diseases when processing or consuming game.

Hobby hunters should always practise good hygiene when handling wild animals and follow food safety recommendations, such as:

• Avoiding contact between wild animals and domestic animals, including pets and hunting dogs.
• Not processing any wild animals that appear sick or are found dead.
• Keeping game meat clean and refrigerating it as quickly as possible.
• Avoiding severing the spinal cord and backbone, and not eating the brain of wild animals.
• Wearing rubber or disposable gloves.
• Not eating, drinking, or smoking during processing.
• Thoroughly washing hands with soap and water afterwards.
• Cleaning knives, equipment, and surfaces that have come into contact with game meat with soap and water, then disinfecting them.
• Cooking game meat thoroughly (to an internal temperature of 75° or higher).
• Checking with the relevant government wildlife authority regarding any testing requirements for other diseases and for specific instructions on the preparation, transport, and consumption of game meat.