LANSING, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates over half of Michigan’s deer population has been exposed to COVID-19.
It was already known that deer can contract the virus, but they do not show any symptoms when they do. An inspection effort in four states to identify animal species that may serve as hosts for the virus aimed to learn the impact of COVID-19 in cross-species transmission.
Findings showed a large population of wild animals in North America could serve as a host for the virus, even if the spread of COVID-19 in the human population gets under control. Animal experts believe the exposure is not likely happening between humans and wild deer. It’s possible another species, possibly a domesticated one, could carrying the virus between humans and deer.
There are no confirmed cases of humans being infected with the virus from the deer population, but experts have not ruled it out.
