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Risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission from humans to bats - An Australian assessment.
Cox-Witton, Keren; Baker, Michelle L; Edson, Dan; Peel, Alison J; Welbergen, Justin A; Field, Hume.
  • Cox-Witton K; Wildlife Health Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia.
  • Baker ML; CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia.
  • Edson D; Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia.
  • Peel AJ; Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia.
  • Welbergen JA; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia.
  • Field H; Australasian Bat Society Inc, Milsons Point NSW 1565, Australia.
One Health ; 13: 100247, 2021 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1220997
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19, infected over 100 million people globally by February 2021. Reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to other species has been documented in pet cats and dogs, big cats and gorillas in zoos, and farmed mink. As SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to known bat viruses, assessment of the potential risk of transmission of the virus from humans to bats, and its subsequent impacts on conservation and public health, is warranted. A qualitative risk assessment was conducted by a multi-disciplinary group to assess this risk in bats in the Australian context, with the aim of informing risk management strategies for human activities involving interactions with bats. The overall risk of SARS-CoV-2 establishing in an Australian bat population was assessed to be Low, however with a High level of uncertainty. The outcome of the assessment indicates that, for the Australian situation where the prevalence of COVID-19 in humans is very low, it is reasonable for research and rehabilitation of bats to continue, provided additional biosecurity measures are applied. Risk assessment is challenging for an emerging disease where information is lacking and the situation is changing rapidly; assessments should be revised if human prevalence or other important factors change significantly. The framework developed here, based on established animal disease risk assessment approaches adapted to assess reverse zoonotic transmission, has potential application to a range of wildlife species and situations.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Language: English Journal: One Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.onehlt.2021.100247

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Language: English Journal: One Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.onehlt.2021.100247