SARS-CoV-2, a betacoronavirus of likely zoonotic origin, was first reported in December 2019. Its rapid worldwide spread precipitated a range of interventions, including by veterinarians, due to impacts on human health and well-being as well as animal health and welfare. We conducted 36 key informant interviews to explore the responses […]
AVA fields increased Ivermectin queries
AThe AVA has been receiving enquiries from journalists about whether vets are being asked for Ivermectin for use as a COVID-19 treatment/prevention in humans, and whether there are concerns about supply of the drug. The AVA issued a media release which said Ivermectin is primarily used in treating parasites in […]
Abstracts: Animal sales from Wuhan wet markets immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic
Here we document 47,381 individuals from 38 species, including 31 protected species sold between May 2017 and November 2019 in Wuhan’s markets. We note that no pangolins (or bats) were traded, supporting reformed opinion that pangolins were not likely the spillover host at the source of the current coronavirus (COVID-19) […]
Opinion: Eagle Post
Tom Donnelly reports from the USA. The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed a temporary relaxation of rules around remote animal care by veterinary telemedicine. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) fiercely contends that establishing a “veterinarian-client-patient relationship” (VCPR) by in-person examination is a prerequisite for telemedicine. Many states use the AVMA’s model […]
Abstracts: COVID-19 restrictions provide a brief respite from the wildlife roadkill toll
The COVID-19 pandemic provides a rare opportunity to reveal the impact of reduced human activity on wildlife. I compared traffic volume and wildlife roadkill data along 18 km of highway before, during and after a 3-month period of COVID-19 restrictions with baseline data from the previous four years.