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ShimmerFaux t1_j0k5a6h wrote

Reply to comment by sids99 in Researchers find that the free-ranging white-tailed deer of New York City may be a potential reservoir species for SARS-CoV-2 by glawgii

There’s nothing innocuous about this, we knew it was a thing because it’s actually likely that SARS was infectious to camels.

We knew that years ago, though we still haven’t traced the full source for SARS.

Finding out that SARS-Cov-2 infected other vertebrates in close proximity to a large human populace just means we need to take more aggressive steps to eradicate a possible pool.

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ktappe t1_j0k8bw8 wrote

We already knew that Whitetail deer had Covid at least 18 months ago. It wasn’t just theorized. It is the main reason why we know that we cannot eradicate the disease; because it’s already gotten outside the human population.

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apathetic_panda t1_j0kiqx7 wrote

It originated outside of humans. We haven't tracked spread among livestock.

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IcyDay5 t1_j0k7p30 wrote

Look around. The entire global population is the pool

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FraseraSpeciosa t1_j0lcxo5 wrote

Yeah like who is even talking about eradication now? How would you even do that. Slaughter any deer within a mile of a town? Doesn’t make sense

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ShimmerFaux t1_j0mffg6 wrote

Actually,

It’s one of the few defenses we have that does work.

When avian influenza strains hit, it’s how we control it. It seems less likely to work in a cervine population, but the herds in new york cannot be that big. Couple hundred members at the absolute most. Probably less.

It seems more sad, and certainly harder because no one wants to be the guy who shot bambi’s mom. But were dealing with something that has the possibility to mutate rapidly, spread easier than hot butter, and affects all vertebrate animals.

The rat population would be much much much harder to curtail in a city the size of new york.

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BlondeMomentByMoment t1_j0llws2 wrote

Maybe people could, you know, get vaccinated? Just a wild idea to improve survival rates and diminish suffering.

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FraseraSpeciosa t1_j0lqkxg wrote

Who said was advocating against that? I’m just saying there is no way to eradicate Covid from any kind of animal reservoir whether that be human or not. Vaccinations are the only thing we have that works, but let’s not kid ourselves into thinking the virus can’t mutate away from the current vaccine, something which Covid existing in different animal populations, especially populations near humans, will make more likely.

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BlondeMomentByMoment t1_j0lwar0 wrote

I didn’t say anything to suggest you are opposed to that idea.

Maybe I should’ve made it clearer I was being sarcastic. Viruses mutate. It’s why we are now dealing with an endemic virus rather than a pandemic. As we’ve done with influenza.

Non offense meant.

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