That the dog ‘nose’ more than we know has been proved many times over. More recently they have played a crucial role in sniffing out the Covid-19 virus in infected people passing through airports.
After a year of studying the role of dogs in identifying Covid-19 in humans, the UAE now has a pack of 38 incredible canine workers at the airports. These dogs are reportedly trained by the Dubai Police to recognise the whiff of Covid-19 virus. The breeds include Border Collies, Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds and Labradors. I wonder why Beagles are not included in this list.
So, how do they go about it?
The Dubai Police have used samples of sweat from people who tested positive and trained a group of dogs to identify the smell of the Covid-19 virus. To test the success rate of detecting the Covid-19 virus, Dubai Police’s K9 unit does an exercise. They walk a pack of trained dogs around a set of metal boxes with multiple sterile containers, one of which contains a positive sample. The dogs sniff the samples and indicate the right one by immediately sitting down beside the box. They are then rewarded with treats.
The UAE study was published in Communications Biology. It has reportedly concluded with a 98.2% success rate in dogs detecting Covid-19 virus in people passing through the UAE airports. The same trial is underway at the airports in Finland and Lebanon.
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Proof that the dog ‘nose’ more than we know
Around the world, trainers are claiming promising results of dogs successfully detecting coronavirus in people. And scientists feel that a trained canine unit has the power to stop the spread of Covid-19. Their role can be especially crucial in crowded spaces such as airports. With Expo 2020 Dubai less than two weeks away, who knows we might even see some of these canine heroes on site.
From smelling an unsuspecting patch in the garden and digging with full concentration to bring out those grubs. To helping uncover mysteries and detect diseases through the power of their nose and now sniffing for the good of humanity. Indeed, the dog ‘nose’ more than us.
