They are called "bio-detectors" and are expected to complete the training in mid-September. They will then be placed in places where the concentration of people is greatest. Chilean police dogs are being trained to sniff Covid-19 in humans, in the hope that this will facilitate the reopening of busy public spaces, including malls, sports centers, bus terminals and airports this fall.
Currently, the training program includes only 3 Golden Retrievers and 1 Labrador, who will be introduced to a new "smell", that of people infected with coronavirus. This cooperation includes: the national police, veterinary epidemiologist and the country's Catholic University.
Currently, there is no exact evidence that dogs can smell coronavirus, or make a distinction between coronavirus and another infection, especially when infected people have not yet shown symptoms. In previous studies, it has been observed that dogs can distinguish between people with diseases like malaria or cancer and those without any disease. The coronavirus, of course, has no odor, but researchers hope to find something distinct in the sweat of the sick, which may be distinct from dogs.
How does the training take place?
"A body with Covid-19, generates volatile organic compounds. We take a sample from the person, in the early stages of infection. A gauze is held for about 15 minutes below the individual arm. This is the sample we store and use to train dogs. The selected dogs have been working for years on detecting drugs, explosives, etc. For them, it's just like learning a new flavor. The training can last from 2 weeks to 2 months. "Dogs are also being taught to just sit next to infected people, not bark and touch them as they would if they smelled drugs or anything else illegal."
"A dog can detect, within 1 hour, up to 250 people. Thus, when we start opening stadiums, schools, businesses, restaurants, it will be essential that in these environments with many people, we have the opportunity to add "bio-detective" dogs.
Similar attempts have been made in the UK, where dogs are given face masks and nylon socks during training to smell Covid-19. They are thought to be stationed at airports, helping the troubled travel industry.
Source: CNN
