Dogs used to detect coronavirus in pilot project at Helsinki airport

‘Dogs trained to detect the novel coronavirus began sniffing passenger samples at Finland’s Helsinki-Vantaa airport this week, authorities said, in a pilot project running alongside more usual testing at the airport. The dogs’ efficiency has not been proven in comparative scientific studies so passengers who volunteer to be tested and are suspected as carrying the virus are instructed to also take a swab to confirm the result.’

Read here (Reuters, Sept 24, 2020)

Viral loads: Review points to PCR-testing inadequacies and need to prioritise early case detection

A review of 79 studies on viral loads in people — specifically, SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV — has shown that (1) ‘viral RNA can persist in and be shed from the body for long periods of time (more than 80 days in some cases)’ although ‘SARS-CoV-2 only remains viable and infectious for approximately one week after the onset of symptoms’ (2) ‘Viral load was at its highest approximately 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms, and there was a positive correlation between prolonged viral shedding and disease severity. Older patients also experienced prolonged viral shedding compared to younger patients, even when accounting for disease severity...

‘While there are fewer studies on the kinetics of viral load for asymptomatic infections, viral shedding appeared to be of a shorter duration, and overall viral load appeared to be lower compared to symptomatic cases.’ 

The authors conclude that (1) ‘PCR testing is likely not a good tool for evaluating patient recovery, because viral RNA is detectable long after the end of the infectious period’. (2) ‘Early case detection and isolation should be prioritised in order to maximise control efforts during the time when patients are the most infectious.’ -- Center for Health Security, John Hopkins University

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.07.25.20162107v2.full.pdf

Read here (Medrxiv, July 25, 2020)

German sniffer dogs show promise at detecting coronavirus

‘Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover have found that trained sniffer dogs could be used to detect COVID-19 in human samples with a relatively high rate of accuracy, a study published on Thursday revealed... The animals were able to positively detect SARS-CoV-2 infected secretions with an 83% success rate, and control secretions at a rate of 96%. The overall detection rate, combining both, was 94%.’

Read here (DW, July 23, 2020)

Alibaba's AI helps detect coronavirus pneumonia within a minute

‘Medical information provider M3 has tapped Alibaba Group Holding's artificial intelligence technology to develop a diagnostic system that can quickly identify COVID-19 pneumonia in CT scan images. The system, which is awaiting approval from the health ministry, holds promise as a supplementary testing tool as Japan struggles to expand capacity for PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests for the coronavirus.’

Read here (Nikkei, June 4, 2020)

The next Apple Watch could be a powerful COVID-19 early warning system

‘The Apple Watch already has a number of sensors that could effectively detect early signs of COVID-19, and the most important one—a pulse oximeter—may be on the way.

‘Toward the end of his life, one of Steve Jobs’s hopes for Apple was that it could play a role in helping people stay healthy. After he died, that ambition was most clearly expressed in the Apple Watch. The company has always pushed to make its wearable something more than a fitness tracker—a more powerful, clinically relevant device.’

Read here (Fast Company, March 4, 2020)

Dogs are being trained to sniff out coronavirus cases

‘As some states move to reopen after weeks of shutdowns, infectious disease experts say the prevention of future coronavirus outbreaks will require scaling up testing and identifying asymptomatic carriers. Eight Labrador retrievers — and their powerful noses — have been enlisted to help.

‘The dogs are the first trainees in a University of Pennsylvania research project to determine whether canines can detect an odor associated with the virus that causes the disease covid-19. If so, they might eventually be used in a sort of “canine surveillance” corps, the university said — offering a noninvasive, four-legged method to screen people in airports, businesses or hospitals.’

Read here (Washington Post, April 29, 2020)