Taiwanese scientist infected with virus after rat bite

Last Thursday (9), a scientist at Academia Sinica (the main research institute in Taiwan) contracted delta type after being bitten by a laboratory rat. The researcher had already taken two doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, and experts are still investigating whether the bite was really the source of transmission.

Since the moment of infection, the scientist has been in contact with nearly 94 people, who are already under quarantine, accompanied by the Taiwan health authorities. The center for genomic research in which the scientist worked is considered the highest level of biosecurity.

The country has not recorded any cases of the emerging coronavirus since the fifth of November, which may be a reflection of the strict entry procedures for tourists and quarantine at the borders. It was only in recent months that the government began easing restrictions on trade and entertainment.

Can animals transmit the virus to humans?

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of animals transmitting COVID-19 to humans is considered low. However, more studies are needed to understand this relationship.

In fact, researchers from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (USA) recently analyzed the presence of COVID-19 in cats, dogs, and rodents, in order to understand how the variants manifest in animals.

source: South China Morning Newspaper