WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Friday that some deer in Ohio have been found to carry SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine collected samples from infected animals between January and March this year, the USDA said. Officials did not say from which area of Ohio the samples were collected.
“These are the first confirmed deer with the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide, although previous studies have shown that deer can be experimentally infected with the virus and that some wild deer had antibodies to the virus.” said the USDA.
Deer are not the first animals to contract the virus, but government health officials said the risk of the animals spreading the virus to humans is low.
The virus can be spread to deer and other animals through close contact with someone infected with COVID-19. People with the virus are asked to stay away from pets and other animals.
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