Humans spread covid to deer

New research suggests that humans have been responsible for dozens of covid outbreaks in white-tailed deer in North America, with the virus easily transferring between people and deer. Between November 2021 and March 2022, researchers found active infections in 10% of 1,522 deer sampled. Alarmingly, the virus is evolving three times faster in deer than in humans, posing a potential public health threat if it mutates and jumps back to humans. Antibodies indicating previous infections were found in 40% of deer, highlighting the extent of the spread.

The study, published in Nature Communications, raises concerns about the implications of the virus spreading between humans and deer. This could have serious consequences if the virus mutates in deer and jumps back to humans. The research highlights the importance of understanding zoonotic diseases and the potential risks they pose to both animal and human populations.