Nikita Lebedev: There are no prerequisites for mass vaccination of animals against COVID-19

Advisor to the HEAD of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance spoke at the online conference "COVID-19: Animal Vaccine". The speaker spoke about the results of research conducted in RUSSIA and around the world, and expressed the position of the department regarding rumors about a possible threat of a mass epidemic among animals

According to the data that Nikita Lebedev cited in his speech, cases of covid-19 have been reported in 27 countries in different types of animals. “The first detection was in Hong Kong, in March last year, it was a dog. At the moment, cases have been detected in dogs, cats, zoo animals in different countries: the virus is adapting to new species,” the adviser said.

In Russia, monitoring studies were carried out in different regions, on different animals. For some time, there has been confusion in the press and social networks that some groups of animals have their own coronaviruses. This sparked rumors that animals cannot contract COVID-19. "Our research, research colleagues have confirmed that animals are susceptible, animals get sick," warned Nikita Lebedev.

The speaker presented a summary table that combined the results of studies conducted in Russia, Germany, the usa and CHINA on experimental and natural infection of animals. "Experiments carried out on pigs and poultry have shown that these animals are immune," said the adviser. 

“In the Russian Federation, we started conducting research since May last year. Samples were examined both from cats and from dogs and farm animals. The disease was confirmed in two cases. At the moment, we can state that we do not have a widespread disease in the animal population. But in any case, we cannot relax, because it is possible to miss the pathogen in a population of susceptible animals. If the virus goes into the wild and takes root, the disease can become a natural focal disease,” summed up Nikita Lebedev.

According to the ROSSELKHOZNADZOR , the current situation is unlikely to lead to a massive epidemic among wildlife. Nevertheless, the speaker noted that it is necessary to continue to keep the situation under control: “I cannot say that this can develop into a large-scale epizootic, but our colleagues from Spain and the United States have already reported cases of detection of wild minks infected with SARS-CoV-2. When there is high population protection in humans, the virus will try to find new susceptible species in order to survive on its own.”

The representative of the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance reassured the audience, saying that at the moment there are no prerequisites for mass vaccination. “Everything should be based on risk analysis. But the possibility of distribution is present. Accordingly, we must keep our finger on the pulse. Having the means of specific prevention, if we realize that the situation is becoming more complicated, we will be able to take it under control,” Nikita Lebedev summed up.