University of Pretoria-led study reveals COVID-19 Delta variants transmitted from humans to animals

Abstract

A team of scientists from the University of Pretoria (UP) has published the only study from Africa that entailed genomic One Health investigations which reveal that Delta variants of COVID-19 were transmitted from humans to animals. One Health is an approach that recognises that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and a shared environment. Close contact with animals and their environment provides opportunities for diseases to spread between animals and people.The team of transdisciplinary scientists found that reverse zoonotic transmission of COVID-19 from asymptomatic animal handlers at a private zoo in Gauteng posed a risk to big cats kept in captivity.