Specially trained dogs will soon be deployed on the streets of Bangkok to sniff out cases of Covid-19 infection. Led by volunteers, the dogs will screen communities in the capital in the latest initiative to fight the resurgence of the virus. Nation Thailand reports that the project is being run by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University.
Juti Krairiksh, Social Development and Human Security Minister, says so far, 6 Labrador retriever dogs have been trained to detect Covid-19 in human sweat. With a sense of smell 50 times greater than that of human beings, dogs are given certain items to sniff. Kewali Chatdarong from Chulalongkorn University says cotton wool and socks are placed in cans and given to the dogs.
The dogs have been trained to sit when they detect the scent of Covid-19 on fabric. Tests show that the animals have an accuracy rate of nearly 95% in detecting infected, asymptomatic patients. It’s understood the dogs will be used in addition to regular screen processes.
According to Juti, at least 2 volunteers from the ministry will visit each of the 50 districts in Bangkok and will train others to carry out sniffer dog operations to detect infections. The detection method is seen as a faster alternative to current screening methods, particularly for patients confined to bed.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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The very same univeristy that a few days ago came out with an raport about how safe and effective the Sinovac vaccine is.
They should train Soi dogs to go to Myanmar next.
50 times only? Small search on internet shows very big difference.They up to 100 million times more sensitive than ours.
I cannot believe that the Thais dreamed this up by themselves.
Maybe one of the dogs talked and adviced them what to do.
Sniffer corruption dogs will be better, but yeah than they need a lot of dogs
dogs can smell virus now lol!! what a load of BS!!!
go to hell thailand..,. you will go under and kill you and starve your own people… you are purely evil…
@B.T. – A dog’s sensitivity to smell is about 10,000 times greater than that of a human. It’s probably the surface of the nasal epithelium, which is 60 times larger in a dog than in a human, and that’s where the odor recognition cells are. Dogs can distinguish and remember about 600,000 different smells. Unfortunately for Thailand, overheating a dog’s body reduces its olfactory abilities by up to 40%. They would have to work in air-conditioned rooms, not on the streets.
@Toby Andrews – na Toby this has been going on in uk and other countries from last year.. just a typical thai copy with less accuracy as UK dogs could sniff out covid 100%
Once I landed at Heathrow airport and all passengers from the plane coming from Amsterdam were lined up for sniffer dogs to do their job. One of the cute canines got all exited when it was my turn and tapped his foot on my shoe. Off I went for an interrogation and search. Naturally I was most worried how far the constables would go. When I explained I was on my way to work and my pockets and luggage were searched it was determined a false alert. I was two hours late at the company. Imagine this happening with Covid-19 sniffing dogs and not carrying the virus. Off you go to quarantine.