Turns Out, Helsinki Airport Uses Dogs To Sniff Out Coronavirus And It’s Faster Than Lab Testing
Are adorable, fluffy doggies going to be the ones to help save humanity from the global pandemic? There’s a big possibility that they are. I mean, they’ve been doing it for quite a while already, but in more of an emotional sense. But apparently, dogs are now professionally trained and they are able to sniff out COVID-19 faster than laboratory testing.
Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently, professionally trained dogs have recently started working at Helsinki airport in Finland to help detect COVID-19-infected passengers.
More info: finavia.fi
Research indicated that dogs are able to smell coronavirus with almost 100% certainty
Image credits: finavia.fi
Apparently, a research group at the Veterinary Faculty of the University of Helsinki recently conducted a study whose results indicated that dogs are able to smell the virus with almost 100% certainty. Moreover, they are able to detect the virus before the symptoms have even started, which is impossible with laboratory testing.
“It’s a very promising method. Dogs are very good at sniffing,” Anna Hielm-Bjorkman, a University of Helsinki professor, told Global News. “If it works, it will be a good (coronavirus) screening method at any other places.”
A passenger is asked to swipe their skin with a wipe which is then put into a jar and given to a dog
Image credits: finavia.fi
Unfortunately, taking this test doesn’t include direct contact with the dog. Apparently, those taking a test will have to swipe their skin using a test wipe and drop it into a cup. After that, the cup is given to a dog to do the sniffing job. It takes about 10 seconds for dog to sniff a sample.
According to Finavia, in the future, four dogs will work at the airport during a shift. “Dogs need to rest from time to time. While two dogs are working, the other two are on a break. The service is mainly intended for passengers arriving from outside the country,” says Susanna Paavilainen, CEO of Suomen hajuerottelu – WiseNose Ry, University of Helsinki’s DogRisk research group.
It takes about 10 seconds for dog to sniff a sample
Image credits: finavia.fi
Here’s what people think about this new COVID-19 testing method
25Kviews
Share on Facebook
"quicker than Lab testing? but it IS Lab testing Hahahahahaha lab-5f6cc9...7a7690.png 
This is a great idea! Dogs can smell cancer and detect high or low blood sugar too!
That's true, they can be trained to smell various issues, and can help save lifes. Unfortunately, that valuable help always stays as a curious minority, because it's not profitable and the big pharma companies need profits
Load More Replies...
I wish the US would go to the dogs like this, but those making money off testing will most likely fight it.
Those comments show the sad truth. People want expensive and invasive tests rather than use dogs. If someone can't even train his dog to sit, the dog is not the idiot. And 'Hippa laws' (I think you try to say HIPAA), keeping treats in pocket etc. dogs don't go around marking people. It's a swipe sample they mark.
I am sure these variables especially food, were trialed and removed from the dogs. You trust drug and bomb sniffing dogs? Well, same process. I've read studies where dogs and cats sniff out cancer. And articles where people say their dog saved their life because they sniffed out their cancer and made them take notice of a spot on them, like a breast, or a skin cancer or mole that looked normal to even a dermatologist. So, this may become the future. They take strays, from shelters that seem like good candidates and learn fast, to become police dogs, bomb and drug sniffers, at airports. I think, even having been a nurse for 35 years, that animals are amazing, and not to be dismissed in the future. So you get pulled out of line because a dog picked up Covid on your skin. Better to be safe than sorry, and many lives saved. It's also something you may not have known. At least efforts are being made to detect this nasty disease and save lives!!
Where did the "Almost 100% accuracy" claim come from? This paper reports 83% sensitivity: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-020-05281-3
That's "almost" compared to 50%. But I think even 83% is higher than the actual Covid tests.
Load More Replies...
I just wonder if this is safe for the dogs themselves. Sniffing in all those viruses.... couldn't that make them sick?
There is also Angus, the C. difficile smelling Springer Spaniel in Vancouver http://www.vch.ca/your-care/your-safety-privacy/infection-control/clostridium-difficile
"quicker than Lab testing? but it IS Lab testing Hahahahahaha lab-5f6cc9...7a7690.png
This is a great idea! Dogs can smell cancer and detect high or low blood sugar too!
That's true, they can be trained to smell various issues, and can help save lifes. Unfortunately, that valuable help always stays as a curious minority, because it's not profitable and the big pharma companies need profits
Load More Replies... I wish the US would go to the dogs like this, but those making money off testing will most likely fight it.
Those comments show the sad truth. People want expensive and invasive tests rather than use dogs. If someone can't even train his dog to sit, the dog is not the idiot. And 'Hippa laws' (I think you try to say HIPAA), keeping treats in pocket etc. dogs don't go around marking people. It's a swipe sample they mark.
I am sure these variables especially food, were trialed and removed from the dogs. You trust drug and bomb sniffing dogs? Well, same process. I've read studies where dogs and cats sniff out cancer. And articles where people say their dog saved their life because they sniffed out their cancer and made them take notice of a spot on them, like a breast, or a skin cancer or mole that looked normal to even a dermatologist. So, this may become the future. They take strays, from shelters that seem like good candidates and learn fast, to become police dogs, bomb and drug sniffers, at airports. I think, even having been a nurse for 35 years, that animals are amazing, and not to be dismissed in the future. So you get pulled out of line because a dog picked up Covid on your skin. Better to be safe than sorry, and many lives saved. It's also something you may not have known. At least efforts are being made to detect this nasty disease and save lives!!
Where did the "Almost 100% accuracy" claim come from? This paper reports 83% sensitivity: https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-020-05281-3
That's "almost" compared to 50%. But I think even 83% is higher than the actual Covid tests.
Load More Replies... I just wonder if this is safe for the dogs themselves. Sniffing in all those viruses.... couldn't that make them sick?
There is also Angus, the C. difficile smelling Springer Spaniel in Vancouver http://www.vch.ca/your-care/your-safety-privacy/infection-control/clostridium-difficile
209
39