Dogs to sniff out COVID-19 in Aussie airports
The canines can detect the coronavirus presymptomatically from sweat samples: researchers
Sniffer-dogs being trained to operate in Australian airports may be capable of detecting COVID-19 before a positive reading shows up in tests.
The dogs have been taught to recognise a specific odour in sweat samples and the aim is to use them alongside required PCR testing for international passengers from early next year.
Adelaide University researcher Dr Susan Hazel (PhD) says the dogs have done the work in training and the next step will be to use them in airports with incoming international passengers.
“The benefit will be once we can prove that it is working they could be used without the other testing. They could be used for initial screening,” Dr Hazel said.
