Widespread in Wildlife: Tracking the Silent Spread of COVID-19

Tracking the genetic code of the COVID-19 virus revealed that six out of 23 commonly studied wildlife species in Virginia exhibited signs of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Research from Virginia Tech has found widespread presence of SARS-CoV-2 among various wildlife species in Virginia, with evidence of human-to-animal transmission and novel viral mutations, highlighting the necessity for enhanced surveillance and research on the virus’s behavior in different hosts.

Widespread COVID-19 in Wildlife
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species. This is according to a Virginia Tech study published today (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications. The virus was detected in six common backyard species, and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.