Vignette 45: Disease management with COVID-19 detector dogs

The University took part in an international research effort during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to understand the virus and undertaking world-class research in disease detection and mass screening programs. 

Undertaken jointly with SA Pathology and Adelaide Local Health Network, with funding from The Hospital Research Foundation Group and the University, the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences trained a team of detector dogs to screen subjects for COVID-19. 

Studies deployed the dogs into Adelaide Airport and then into the emergency department of the Lyell McEwin Hospital. Dogs were able to use their sense of smell to identify COVID-19-positive visitors, with each dog having the capacity to inspect up to 100 people per hour. 

Through rapid early detection, developments in this field have the potential to dramatically decrease the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.

The University of Adelaide: 150 Years of Making History.  Nurturing excellence. p.67