HAIRS risk assessment: SARS-CoV-2 in UK cervid populations
Qualitative assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 to human health through non-food exposures to deer in the UK.
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The recent detection of SARS-CoV-2 in white-tailed deer (WTD) in North America raises concerns about domestic exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in cervid populations within the UK and the risks to human health.
This assessment considers non-food exposure pathways in the UK.
The risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through non-food routes in the UK is dependent on the level of the infection within UK deer species. Surveillance undertaken through a wildlife research programme by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has detected just a single SARS-CoV-2 seropositive fallow deer (Dama dama) in the UK, out of many tens of samples processed. The source of infection and the transmission pathways is currently not known.
Data to determine SARS-CoV-2 prevalence in UK cervid populations is not available. It remains necessary to accumulate evidence to determine our confidence in the absence of this disease within UK cervid populations.
This risk assessment assumes a pessimistic scenario where SARS-CoV-2 becomes present in UK deer populations.
This assessment is 2 of 3 parts. The other part is: Qualitative assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 to human health through food exposures to deer in the UK, which is led by the Food Standards Agency.