Dogs are pretty good at sniffing out kids with COVID-19

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-04-25 01:00

International

Photo by Evi Kalemi on Unsplash

Sniffer dogs trained to detect viruses could be a cheaper, more efficient way to screen during times of pandemic, according to international researchers who tested dogs' ability to screen schoolchildren for COVID-19. The team trained medical alert dogs to search for COVID-19 by sniffing the ankles and feet of students. In the lab, the dogs were able to identify samples that did and didn't have COVID-19 above 95% accuracy. In the schools, they were 83% accurate at identifying COVID-19 positive children, and 90% accurate at identifying COVID-19 negative children. The researchers say more work needs to be done to know if dogs could be useful in other pandemic situations.

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Research JAMA, Web page The URL will go live after the embargo ends

Journal/
conference: JAMA Pediatrics

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: California Department of Public Health, USA

Funder: The CDC Foundation provided funding to Early Alert Canines for the purchase and care of the 2 dogs trained, to support the handlers and trainers, and for other expenses.

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