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Sweat-sniffer dogs make Thai debut as coronavirus detectors

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Reuters

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/05/21/20210521-dog-that-has-been-trained-to-sniff-out-the-coronavirus-disease-thailand-rtr.jpg"/><figcaption>A dog that has been trained to sniff out the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), screens a sweat sample at Chulalongkorn University, in Bangkok, Thailand May 21, 2021. <em>Jorge Silva, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>BANGKOK - Thailand on Friday deployed dogs trained to detect coronavirus infections by sniffing samples of human sweat, as the country deals with a spike in infections, including many without symptoms of the virus.</p><p>Three of six trained Labradors made their debut at Bangkok&#x27;s Chulalongkorn University after trials that the project leader said had shown a success rate of about 95%, with about 2,000 samples sniffed this month.</p><p>&quot;The canines are very fast at screening,&quot; said co-researcher Thitiwat Sirprasart. &quot;At this pace, we are able to isolate those whom we suspect are infected from those who are virus-free.&quot;</p><p>The dogs are not required to smell the humans directly. Sweat samples are collected from humans and stored in small metal containers for the dogs to inspect one by one.</p><p>When a suspected infection is found, the dog halts and directs its nose at the sample.</p><p>&quot;The distinctive scent is what would appear after there is an infection. Different kinds of viruses will produce different kinds of scent,&quot; said co-researcher Pattama Torvorapanit.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/22/20/ushio-launches-worlds-1st-uv-lamp-safely-killing-coronavirus">Ushio launches world&#x27;s 1st UV lamp safely killing coronavirus</a></li></ul><p>The project&#x27;s directors hope the dogs will be used at airports or boat piers and say they are more effective than temperature checks.</p><p>Thailand is fighting its most severe outbreak yet, with cases quadrupling to 123,066 and deaths increasing seven-fold since the start of April to 735. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1636512" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>BANGKOK - Thailand on Friday deployed dogs trained to detect coronavirus infections by sniffing samples of human sweat, as the country deals with a spike in infections, including many without symptoms of the virus.</p>

BANGKOK - Thailand on Friday deployed dogs trained to detect coronavirus infections by sniffing samples of human sweat, as the country deals with a spike in infections, including many without symptoms of the virus.