The findings, which were published on March 9 in the American Society for Microbiology’s open-access journal mBio, revealed that New York rodents are susceptible to three Covid variants. Rats collected for the investigation tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 alpha, delta, and omicron variants. For the investigation, rats were captured in and around wastewater treatment facilities, primarily in Brooklyn. Biologists discovered that 16.5 percent of 79 rodents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

According to the study’s principal investigator, Dr. Henry Wan, this is one of the first studies to demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 variants can infect wild rat populations in a significant urban area of the United States.It is unclear, however, how the rodents contracted SARS-CoV-2 or whether they pose a particular threat to human health.

Dr. Wan stated that further surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in rodent populations is necessary to determine if the virus is circulating in the animals and evolving into new strains that could pose a risk to humans.”Ultimately, our work in this area demonstrates that animals can play a role in pandemics that affect humans, and it is crucial that we continue to increase our understanding in order to protect both human and animal health,” he added.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), transmission of Covid from animals to humans is uncommon.”There is no evidence that animals play a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to humans. There have been rare reports of infected mammals transmitting the virus to humans through direct contact,” according to the CDC’s website.

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Prior investigations on rats in Hong Kong and Belgium revealed that they had been exposed to the virus responsible for Covid; however, the studies were inconclusive regarding the variant. Prior reports of COVID-19 infections in animals include felines, canines, primates, hippos, cervids, and anteaters.

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