The pandemic has affected all of us in every manner. Dogs have been saving humans for ages. Sometimes they bark at us to alert us from danger, and sometimes being the best buddy to be our emotional support. But this time it seems like there is something huge. Dogs can likely sense a person having coronavirus faster than laboratory tests.
Yes, according to some information, apparently trained dogs have started to work at Helsinki airport in Finland to help detect COVID-19-infected passengers.
Research indicated that dogs are able to smell coronavirus with almost 100% certainty
Apparently, a research group at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Helsinki recently conducted a study. The results of the study indicated that dogs are able to smell the virus with almost 100% certainty. The study also states that they can sense the virus even before the person can see the symptoms, which is impossible in case of laboratory testing.
“It’s a very promising method. Dogs are very good at sniffing,” Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a University of Helsinki professor, told Global News. “If it works, it will be a good (coronavirus) screening method at any other places.”
A passenger is asked to swipe their skin with a wipe which is then put into a jar and given to a dog
The test does not include any direct contact between the person and the dog. The person has to rub a test wipe on their skin and drops it in the cup. After this, the dog is given the cup to sniff. They take about 10 seconds to sniff a cup.
According to Finavia, in the future, four dogs will work at the airport during a shift. “Dogs need to rest from time to time. While two dogs are working, the other two are on a break. The service is mainly intended for passengers arriving from outside the country,” says Susanna Paavilainen, CEO of Suomen hajuerottelu – WiseNose Ry, University of Helsinki’s DogRisk research group.
