Helsinki, Finland has utilized COVID-19 sniffing dogs to detect the virus in travellers to astounding success. Why aren’t we using them… everywhere?
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COVID-19 Sniffing Dogs
Helsinki has been deploying dogs that can detect infected COVID-19 passengers in their international airport. Detection is nearly 100% perfect as Matthew pointed out, takes 10 seconds to complete the test, and is about as non-invasive as it gets. Instead of the current PCR test which can be difficult (and sometimes uncomfortable) nasal extraction, a wipe of the skin cells placed into a jar is sufficient.
The dogs were rotating on a schedule with four performing the tests and could detect infection even before the person had shown symptoms or knew they were ill.
Dogs Are Used Almost Everywhere by Airports
From drugs to money to illegal food, dogs are used at airports extensively to detect in a passive modality. Canines are walked through baggage claim to locate any improper items that may have slipped a traveller’s mind. The facilities, training and co-ordination are already in place. Re-training (or training new dogs) could involve less cost, time, and accommodation than United’s new pre-flight rapid test model.
Why Aren’t We Using Them?
The question doesn’t seem to be whether it works, but rather why we aren’t rapidly expanding this practice worldwide?
There appears to be a better solution and while we trust the dogs to sniff out stacks of illegal bills or drugs hiding in suitcases, COVID-19 tests might be a step that airports or airlines aren’t willing to take. It could be due to the litigious nature of the US, it could be down to lack of proven studies.
But to the last point, if it is down to lack of extensive study periods and evaluation, everything is new with this (hence: novel coronavirus) and we might as well begin exploring all possible avenues as opposed to waiting for peer studies. The same folks that suggest we wait for proper research tend to be the same that are also discussing the immediate need and great severity. We won’t get to a solution unless we start pursuing these things.
I’d also suspect that some destinations dependent on tourism may want to employ the method to bring those who do not want to submit to a PCR test but would visit. As with the Dominican Republic and their random test approach on arrival, those who are found to have the illness would be subject to quarantine and covering their own medical costs.
Conclusion
Canine detection seems like a much smarter way to go about re-opening. It allows for the free movement of most while ensuring that those who are sick are removed from the general population until they get better. The costs on a per passenger basis are far lower, faster, and more accurate. If I was the Governor of Hawai’i, I’d be on the phone with Helsinki right away.
What do you think? Should more airports use canine detection for COVID-19? Do you trust the model or remain suspicious?
These dogs aren’t ‘100%’ accurate. We don’t need 100% accuracy, but also shouldn’t misunderstand. The highly accurate claim originates with a study of 8 dogs https://bmcinfectdis.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12879-020-05281-3
The study you linked looks like it’s from Hannover, not Finland. It’s very promising though—low 80’s sensitivity is in the same range as rapid tests, with the big caveat that their positive samples were all from “hospitalised COVID-19 patients that showed clinical symptoms.”
As far as Finland goes, it looks like they’re running their own trial with no data published yet, just a press release. I’d advise everyone to take any claims of 100% anything with a giant grain of salt unless there’s actual data to back it up.
Seriously how is this even possible? Amazing. Such a low tech high probability success alternative solution (well partial solution anyway). The rapid recognition tests aren’t 100% either. But we should be actively embracing all of this as tools in our toolbox
We don’t deserve dogs; they give 10,000 times what they get…
I’m curious why you think this would lead to abuse or why you are against this? For most of the worlds, dogs more respect than most other animals.
No, I’m saying they’re wonderful creatures and give us so much, asking very little in return. Many breeds of dogs love to work and are very content. I support this.
besides studying scientific data, we must also consider the social & political consequences of what it shows, and mitigating the effects of it if it proves to be against current policy in order to protect the stability of the society, both of which are set up by the leadership of the society.
The study that was done in Finland before this pilot at Helsinki airport included 18 dogs and 198 sweat samples and the dogs had 100% accuracy.
These are dogs have already been trained to detect smells (e.g. cancer) and accordingly to the articles, Covid-19 was easy task for them and took about a day to learn.
It’s a very good question why this isn’t used more.
A single small sample with a 100% accuracy rate does not mean 100% accuracy in the greater population…not to mention who knows how well the experiment was conducted. And what test in this world is 100% accurate? None, and especially not a test relying on dogs, their training, and their handlers, and not in a controlled environment. Come on, stop being so naive. Stop jumping to conclusions and learn to be skeptical of outrageous claims. Covid is a case study in how unscrupulous people manipulate and stupid people are manipulated by a poor understanding of statistics.
The less you want if you are a dog lover is to see your dog get sick. Everybody is thinking about how fast the dog can determine the desease, but who is thinking that each an everyone of these dogs can get sick and spray the virus as we humans do. It is known that animals can get sick too, so what are we talking about. It is a nonesense to put a dog in this situation. I do not believe this is happening.