Govt to test wild animals for Covid

The Swiss government is funding research to test wild animals to see if they’re carrying Covid and may be a factor in the spread and mutation of the disease.


In a report in yesterday’s NZZ newspaper, virologists say they are concerned animals could contract the virus, where it mutates, and then be passed back to humans. 

There have been hundreds of cases of domestic animals being infected and this weekend Antwerp Zoo in Belgium says its two hippos have tested positive. US authorities have identified the virus in the wild deer population in Virginia. 

The Confederation plans to test 1,300 wild animals over the next two years. Most of the testing will be carried out on those animals that have been killed by hunters. 

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