Staten Island's resident white-tailed deer population, about 1600 strong, have been infected by Omicron according to researchers who conducted a study of the animals. Nasal swabs were taken from seven deer in December. Symptoms are apparently mild. The study is the first to confirm the Omicron variant in a wild animal population according to the lead scientist from Penn State University. The result has caused concern the deer could become a reservoir of the SARS CoV-2 virus where it could further mutate and re-infect humans with more serious effect. One of the affected deer had antibodies from a previous COVID-19 infection, indicating that, like humans, can experience breakthrough infections. There is no word on whether the animals will be vaccinated; vaccines for veterinary use have been developed. [photo credit: AP]
Deer reached New York's most rural borough by swimming from New Jersey, no mean feat. Finding the island commodious they began to multiply as animals do. They have caused problems for the island's motorists and gardeners. Borough officials engaged a contractor to perform vasectomies on the bucks as a means of population control. Their numbers have been reduced by 21% since 2017.
