MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — A study by researchers at Virginia Tech The virus that causes COVID-19 has been found to be circulating among wild animals.
According to the university, the SARS-CoV-2 virus was found in six common home garden animal species and antibodies indicating past exposure were found in five of the animals, with exposure rates ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.
A spokesman said the study provides further evidence that SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted from humans to animals.
Scientists from Virginia Tech say the highest exposure to SARS CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and public areas frequented by humans, suggesting the virus was transmitted from humans to wildlife.
“This discovery highlights the need for identification and widespread surveillance of new SARS-CoV-2 mutations in wild animals, as these mutations may be more harmful and transmissible and pose challenges for vaccine development,” the spokesperson said.
Despite this, scientists said they found no evidence that the virus jumped from animals to humans.
Throughout the study, the researchers tested 23 common animal species living in Virginia for active infection and antibodies that indicate past infection.
Signs of the virus have been found in raccoons, deer mice, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits, Virginia opossums, and eastern red bats. One virus in an opossum shows a previously unreported viral mutation that could help scientists learn more about how the virus affects humans and their immune responses.
