Dogs That Can Detect Coronavirus are Being Trained Now

In the non-stop battle against the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone can agree on one thing: We need quicker testing.  It's one thing to think you might have the caught "it," but it's quite another to know for sure and be able to seek adequate medical care.  Now, it looks like man's best friend may be the answer right under our (and their) noses.

The BBC is reporting that K9 units are now being trained to detect the faint scent of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 crisis currently holding our society hostage. Not only will this new breed of doggie duputy will be able to tell if you have the Coronavirus by smell, they would be able to do so on a large scale much faster than the current impale-your-face-with-a-huge-swab technique.

These "bio-detection dogs" are currently undergoing trials at Durham University and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in England.  According to the report, dogs have already been successful at detecting early signs of malaria, cancer and Parkinson's disease.  The canine sense of smell is so powerful, researchers say that these dogs can even detect when someone has a fever.

Once the trials are complete, and the theory is proven - the plan is to deploy units at airports, sporting events, or anywhere large crowds might gather.  In theory, these detection dogs will be able to wander through the crowds with their handlers and alert people to a possible infection long before they start to show symptoms.

Unfortunately, each dog will take at least 6 weeks to train at best.  The hope is that this first line of defense will be able to help stave off in future outbreaks of the disease.