Virology Expert: COVID-19 Vaccine Needs To Be Developed For Animals To Prevent Transmission To Humans

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan while visiting a tiger in Ragunan that was affected by COVID-19 (Photo: Instagram @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - Udayana University virology and molecular biology expert Prof I Gusti Ngurah Mahardika said it was necessary to develop a COVID-19 vaccine for animals to anticipate the risk of transmitting the disease. "Animals are also tested for the presence of COVID-19 in animals. Then a second vaccine must be developed immediately. for animals so as to prevent animals from becoming a source of transmission for humans," Mahardika said when contacted by Antara, from Jakarta on Tuesday, August 3. Mahardika explained that the phenomenon of COVID-19 infection in animals is not new with the latest cases, namely two Sumatran tigers (Panthera). tigris sondaica) at the Ragunan Wildlife Park, Jakarta, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on July 15, 2021.

Previously, gorillas at the San Diego Zoo and tigers at the Bronx Zoo, United States were also confirmed to have the disease. COVID-19 has also been found in pet cats in Europe and dogs in Hong Kong, which have been confirmed to have the disease from their owners. mink) was mass exterminated in Denmark last year after a mutation of the corona virus was found in the animal's body. However, when human-to-animal transmission occurs, animal-to-human infection itself has no evidence, although it is theoretically possible. only evidence, we don't have it yet," he explained. However, he emphasized the importance of handling COVID-19 cases in animals, one of which is in the form of vaccines for animals. So far, there are several countries that have injected COVID-19 vaccines in animals, namely Russia with Carnivac-Cov vaccine and the Oakland Zoo in California, USA using artificial vaccines n Zoetis.