Trained on smelly socks, bio-detection dogs sniff out COVID-19
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LONDON Sniffer dogs trained using smelly socks worn by people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus could soon be used at airports or mass gathering venues to pick up the “corona odor” of COVID-19-infected people, British scientists said on Monday.
Working in teams of two, the COVID-trained dogs could screen a line of several hundred people coming off a plane within half an hour, for example, and detect with up to 94.3% sensitivity those infected, the scientists said.
Presenting results of an early stage study – which involved some 3,500 odor samples donated in the form of unwashed socks or T-shirts worn by members of the public and health workers – the researchers said the dogs were even able to sniff out asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 cases, as well as cases caused by a mutant variant that emerged in the UK late last year.
Researchers train dogs to sniff out Covid-19 positive people, could find use at airports India Today Web Desk
As the coronavirus pandemic worsens and cases rise in separate parts of the world owing to fresh waves, a new detector has come around sniffer dogs. A new study shows that sniffer dogs can be trained to identify people with the SARS-CoV2 virus by their odour.
Researchers at the London School of Tropical Medicine, who presented a new study, said that these dogs could soon be used at airports or mass gathering venues to pick up the corona odour of Covid-19-infected people. Working in teams of two, the Covid-trained dogs could screen a line of several hundred people coming off a plane within half an hour and detect with up to 94.3 per cent sensitivity those infected, Reuters reported.
Researchers train dogs to sniff out Covid-19 positive people, could find use at airports indiatoday.in - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from indiatoday.in Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By Press Association 2021
The dogs were able to sniff out samples from people who were infected with coronavirus but were asymptomatic
Covid-19 infection has a distinct smell that can be detected by specially trained dogs with up to 94% accuracy, UK research suggests.
The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, are based on six dogs who tested more than 3,500 odour samples donated by the public and NHS staff.
The canines were able to sniff out samples from people who were infected with coronavirus but were asymptomatic, as well as those who had low viral loads.
They were also able to identify infections caused by the coronavirus strain that was dominant in the UK last summer as well as the UK (Kent) version of the virus which appeared later in the year.
By Press Association 2021
The dogs were able to sniff out samples from people who were infected with coronavirus but were asymptomatic
Covid-19 infection has a distinct smell that can be detected by specially trained dogs with up to 94% accuracy, UK research suggests.
The findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, are based on six dogs who tested more than 3,500 odour samples donated by the public and NHS staff.
The canines were able to sniff out samples from people who were infected with coronavirus but were asymptomatic, as well as those who had low viral loads.
They were also able to identify infections caused by the coronavirus strain that was dominant in the UK last summer as well as the UK (Kent) version of the virus which appeared later in the year.