Fearing it would increase the risk of transmission to humans, and in line with a zero COVID-19 policy in the place of infection, thousands of hamsters were culled to prevent further spread. Besides mink, it is the only species that has been documented to do so.

Unlike deer however, a hamster was confirmed to have transmitted the virus back to humans. Events that are difficult to monitor and prevent.Īnother notable reverse zoonosis example occurred with pet hamsters who were infected with the Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus, most likely from human contact. Especially since initial deer infections have been hypothesised to be linked to deer exposure to human trash or even direct contact, over several occasions. While occasional occurrences of COVID-19 in domestic or zoo animals show little long-term consequence, infections at wildlife population levels indicates the possibility of further evolution of the virus in animals, and a future reintroduction of the virus into humans at a later date. In late 2021, scientific research showed a high prevalence of the COVID-19 virus within white-tailed deer populations in North America, the first time that the virus was detected at population levels in wildlife. These spillovers led to adverse impacts on animal health, and in a longer view, human health and livelihoods. Multiple times it crossed the species barrier, most often directly from humans to the affected species, impacting not only the health of our pets, but also farmed and zoo animals, and wildlife. SARS-CoV-2 in animals is considered an ‘emerging disease’ and was the 3rd most reported animal disease in 2021. WOAH has a list of diseases for which Members should notify our World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) when they appear within their borders, so that we are better able to share transparent, global animal health information. COVID-19 has been documented to affect 23 different animal species, putting at risk both animal and human health, wildlife conservation and biodiversity (according to the latest data, ).

Planet zoo animal list