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According to Bjorkman, in the first phase of the trial, dogs could smell the virus in an asymptomatic person or before symptoms appeared. Therefore, it is fair to recall that in July, researchers from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany, found that with a week of training, dogs could distinguish saliva samples from people infected with the coronavirus from samples. not infected with a 94% success rate.
Does the coronavirus smell?
The main question, now, is being asked by many: then, does the coronavirus smell? It is a complex question. “We know how dogs detect it, and that is by smell. But we still have no idea what they detect. – Hielm-Bjorkman said – If we find out, we can train thousands of dogs around the world.
It must be said that there are many studies that are questioning this issue. In France, some researchers found “very high” evidence that the smell of sweat from an infected person was different from that of a healthy person. And that dogs could feel this diversity. However, the Finnish pilot program is the first to be used at an airport. Other similar programs may come soon, as in recent months, studies in Britain, France, Germany and the United States have positively evaluated the use of dogs to potentially detect the coronavirus.
In Finland, researchers say that if the pilot programs prove effective, the dogs could be used in nursing homes to monitor residents or in hospitals to avoid unnecessary quarantines for health workers.
Finland towards recovery
It is fair to remember that Finland is one of the countries that seems to have reacted best to this pandemic. The numbers have never skyrocketed, also thanks to urgently approved government decisions. After the first infection (a girl who arrived from Wuhan on January 29), the fear arrived in early March, and the infections began to increase. From there, the closing of schools, museums, restaurants, bookstores and more. And then large investments in Health and Wellbeing, but also an absolute prohibition – for those over 70 years old – from coming into contact with other human beings. Today the situation seems decidedly under control and the country’s economy is really looking towards Phase 2.
