CHICAGO - The U.S. government has recently reported the first cases of COVID-19 in deer, making it the world's first case. The case in deer has expanded the list of animals known to have tested positive for the disease.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported infections of SARS-CoV-2 in wild white-tailed deer in Ohio. The deer shows no symptoms, according to the report, the USDA said.
"We do not know how the deer were exposed to SARS-CoV-2," according to USDA spokeswoman Lyndsay Cole. "It's possible they were exposed through people, the environment, other deer, or another animal species."
Previously, the USDA reported COVID-19 in animals, including dogs, cats, tigers, lions, snow leopards, otters, gorillas and minks.
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine collected samples from the infected deer in Ohio from January to March as part of ongoing studies, the USDA said. According to the statement, the samples were presumed to be positive for COVID-19 in university tests, and the cases were confirmed at USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
(Reporting by Tom Polansek)
