A team of researchers led by Professor Víctor Neira, from the Faculty of Veterinary and Livestock Sciences of the University of Chile, has detected for the first time worldwide the Ómicron BA.4.1 variant of Covid-19 transmitted from humans to dogs.
The study, published in the journal Veterinary Quarterly, confirms that the virus can be transmitted between different species and represents a step forward for research on human and animal health.
“This discovery demonstrates that the virus can not only pass from humans to animals, but that new variants, such as Ómicron, can also infect domestic animals,” Neira said, stressing “the importance of continuing joint research between academia and the state and private sectors , to continue monitoring the interaction between humans and animals and anticipate future risks to public health.”
The study was conducted on 65 pets whose homes had people infected with Covid-19, between 2021 and 2023, and in addition to the discovery of the Omicron variant, it revealed that 6.06% of dogs had been infected with the virus.
(Online Union)
