WHO warns of animal to human COVID transmission; lists 7 key steps to stop spread of new variants

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After several studies have suggested that the next COVID variant might be transmitted from animals, the World Health Organisation pointed out that steps need to be taken to ensure that coronavirus does not transmit from animals to humans.

This comes at a time when coronavirus has infected minks, hamsters. In North America, it has infected wild whitetail deer. Now researchers are wondering whether it might infiltrate even more species than it is known to and then move back to humans again, potentially bringing new and dangerous COVID variants. The WHO in a statement said, although the COVID-19 pandemic is driven by human-to-human transmission, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is also known to infect animal species. Current knowledge indicates that wildlife does not play a significant role in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in humans, but spread in animal populations can affect the health of these populations and may facilitate the emergence of new virus variants.

The UN health agency further urged countries to take steps to ensure that animal to human transmission does not happen. The steps include:

Encourage collaboration between national veterinary services and national wildlife authorities, whose partnership is key to promoting animal health and safeguarding human and environmental health. Promote monitoring of wildlife and encourage sampling of wild animals known to be potentially susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Share all genetic sequence data from animal surveillance studies through publicly available databases.

Report confirmed animal cases of SARSCoV-2 to the OIE through the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS).

Craft messages about SARS-CoV-2 in animals with care so that inaccurate public perceptions do not negatively impact conservation efforts. No animal found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be abandoned, rejected, or killed without providing justification from a country- or event-specific risk assessment.

Suspend the sale of captured live wild mammals in food markets as an emergency measure.