USDA reports COVID-19 found in the white-tailed deer population

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A USDA animal and plant health inspection service study found white-tailed deer carrying COVID-19 antibodies. The deer were studied from populations in Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania.

The study shows 33-percent of samples from January 2020 to March 2021 showed deer with the antibodies. The study says that it should not be extrapolated to represent COVID-19 in the deer population.

The study's authors do not say how the deer were exposed but that is possible through people, the environment, other deer or animal species.

According to the report, the risks of animals spreading COVID to people are low.

Officials report the focus of the study was not on deer showing signs of illness but they commented that there were no clinical signs of illness.

The report says there is no evidence that people can get COVID by preparing or eating meat or game meat from an animal infected with the coronavirus.