Endangered ferrets get experimental COVID-19 in Colorado
Associated PressIn late summer, as researchers accelerated the first clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines for humans, a group of scientists in Colorado worked to inoculate a far more fragile species. About 120 black-footed ferrets, among the most endangered mammals in North America, were injected with an experimental COVID vaccine aimed at protecting the small, weasel-like creatures rescued from the brink of extinction four decades ago. “For highly contagious respiratory viruses, it’s really important to be mindful of the animal reservoir,” said Dr. Corey Casper, a vaccinologist and chief executive of the Infectious Disease Research Institute in Seattle. “We don’t have direct evidence that black-footed ferrets are susceptible to COVID-19, but given their close relationship to minks, we wouldn’t want to find out,” Rocke said. An exotic disease is “the biggest nemesis for ferret recovery,” said Gober, who has worked with black-footed ferrets for 30 years.
History of this topic
Baby black-footed ferrets first to be born to a cloned mom
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Scientists clone TWO endangered animals using frozen genes from 1988: Process could save OTHER species from extinction
Daily Mail)
Scientists Clone Black-Footed Ferret From Genes of Animal Which Died 30 Years Ago
News 18)
Covid-19 Caused Deadly Mutations in Minks. Now, a Vaccine May Be Underway For Them
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Animal testing: Scientists test several candidates on ferrets, monkeys in hopes of making a safe COVID-19 vaccine
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