COVID-19 rapidly evolving in white-tailed deer, alarming scientists

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that the COVID-19 virus is evolving at a faster rate in white-tailed deer compared to humans, with potential consequences for both people and livestock. Researchers collected over 1,500 nasal swabs from deer in Ohio and found that more than 10% of the samples were positive for COVID-19, primarily the delta variant. The study suggests that COVID-19 can easily move between humans and animals, with evidence of transmission from deer to humans. The continued spread of the virus in deer and other hosts could lead to further evolution. Vaccination is believed to offer protection against severe disease if the virus spills back from animals to humans.