Dogs used to detect coronavirus in pilot project at Helsinki airport

[snoop1130]

Dogs used to detect coronavirus in pilot project at Helsinki airport

By Anne Kauranen

 

Coronavirus sniffing dogs named Miika and Titta are introduced at the Evidensia veterinary clinic in Vantaa, Finland September 2, 2020. The dogs are trained to detect SARS-CoV-2 from arriving passengers at the Helsinki-Vantaa international airport. Lehtikuva/Antti Aimo-Koivisto via REUTERS

 

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Dogs trained to detect the novel coronavirus began sniffing passenger samples at Finland's Helsinki-Vantaa airport this week, authorities said, in a pilot project running alongside more usual testing at the airport.

 

The dogs' efficiency has not been proven in comparative scientific studies so passengers who volunteer to be tested and are suspected as carrying the virus are instructed to also take a swab to confirm the result.

 

A team of 15 dogs and 10 instructors are being trained for the job in Finland by volunteers, sponsored by a private veterinary clinic. Among them is Kossi, a rescue dog from Spain, who was trained as a sniffer dog in Finland and who has worked before detecting cancers.

 

 

"What we've seen in our research is that the dogs will find (the disease) five days before they (patients) get any clinical symptoms," Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, who is Adjunct Professor at the University of Helsinki and spesialised in clinical research for companion animals, told Reuters.

 

"They are very good (at it). We come close to 100-percent sensitivity," she said, referring to the dogs's ability to detect cases of the virus.

 

In the canine test, a passenger swipes their neck with a gauze, places it in a can which is then handed over to another room for a dog to sniff and to deliver an immediate result.

 

A few months ago, authorities in the United Arab Emirates embarked on similar canine testing at Dubai International Airport using police dogs.

 

"In the future, it's also possible... that these dogs go around passengers in a similar way to customs dogs," Vantaa deputy mayor Timo Aronkyto, said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-24

 

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[sweatalot]

Seems they don't care about the dogs. On the picture they are not wearing  masks.

What if they get infected?

[Bender Rodriguez]

does your <deleted> smell weird or something when you have corona ?

[CygnusX1]

Been reading for years about amazing ability of dogs to sniff out cancer, but nothing ever seems to result from these reports. Strongly suspect the same will apply here.

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed. 

 

[Scott]

Dogs are also used by some people with diabetes and apparently they are very good at it.   I think what needs to be figured out is whether they are actually sniffing the virus or are they identifying some other early symptom of disease, some change in body that indicates the early onset of an immune system.  

 

At this point in time though, we know that tests give both false positives and negatives, so maybe the use of dogs are onto something.  

[SomchaiCNX]

Rats are even better than dogs. Google "rats used for bomb detection"

[Credo]

29 minutes ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Rats are even better than dogs. Google "rats used for bomb detection"

Somehow I think it would be a little unsettling to set a bunch of rats lose on people in the departure lounge!   

 

I suspect bears, which have a very keen sense of smell, would also work, but again, I think it would be rather problematic in implementing.   

 

For now, I think it might be best to stick with dogs.

 

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, SomchaiCNX said:

Rats are even better than dogs. Google "rats used for bomb detection"

Yes rats have been used in I think South America, to detect TB in urine. 

[huangnon]

So, you might get quarantined  / locked away on the say-so of a dog.?????

[simon43]

My mad ex-wife in Thailand had an amazing ability to 'sniff' out when I had money in my wallet.....

[Paiman]

That,s why I never carry chicken bones in my pockets.

[impulse]

On 9/24/2020 at 6:30 AM, snoop1130 said:

Dogs trained to detect the novel coronavirus began sniffing passenger samples

 

I've heard 'em called a lot of things, but never a "sample".

 

[rahi]

As i Finn, I can confirm that in the local news they have been boasting that the dogs have found several positive cases. I hope that this will lead to more widespread adoption (pun intended) of covid sniffing dogs.

[from the home of CC]

On 9/25/2020 at 9:02 AM, SomchaiCNX said:

Rats are even better than dogs. Google "rats used for bomb detection"

yeah but a rat running up the leg under the missus dress to sniff out the covid would create a bit of a stir no?

[DrTuner]

On 9/24/2020 at 7:34 PM, Bender Rodriguez said:

does your <deleted> smell weird or something when you have corona ?

Or something. Humans excrete all sorts of fluids and solids all the time, including sweat. An immune system fighting an infection is likely to change the aroma.

[TSF]

On 9/25/2020 at 7:46 PM, simon43 said:

My mad ex-wife in Thailand had an amazing ability to 'sniff' out when I had money in my wallet.....

Reminds me one night I was out on my own, when I got back home and was sitting in a chair having a beer my Thai wife came up behind me and put her arms around me and started kissing me neck. At first I got a warm fuzzy feeling because she was being so affectionate...until I realized she was actually sniffing me like a bloodhound trying to detect some traces of female scent on me.