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COVID-19 sniffer dogs detect virus with 94 per cent accuracy
"Dogs can really sniff out people with infections and without infections, as well as asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID patients." - Holger Volk.

Dogs to be used to prevent virus spread in public spaces.

A veterinary clinic in Germany has successfully trained detection dogs to detect COVID-19 in human saliva samples with 94 per cent accuracy.

A three-year-old Belgian shepherd named Filou and a one-year-old Cocker spaniel named Joe Cocker, are two of the dogs being trained at Hanover’s University of Veterinary Medicine.

They are conditioned to scent out the 'corona odour' that emanates from the cells of people infected with the virus.

Head of the veterinary clinic Holger Volk said: “We did a study where we had dogs sniffing samples from COVID-positive patients and we can say that they have a 94 per cent probability in our study ... that they can sniff them out.”

“So dogs can really sniff out people with infections and without infections, as well as asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID patients.”

Stephan Weil – the Prime Minister of the state of Lower Saxony, where Hanover is located – expressed his support for the study, calling for 'feasibility tests' at selected events before the dogs could be put to work in everyday life.

Across the world sniffer dogs are being used to detect COVID-19 in public spaces. Dubai airport, Finland’s Helsinki-Vantaa airport and Chile’s Santiago international airport are using COVID-19 detection dogs, and sniffer dogs were also used to check fans at a recent Miami Heat basketball game in Florida.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.