Wildlife Officials Work To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19 To Local Bats, Animals

The new coronavirus is believed to have originated in bats. Photo: National Wildlife Health Center
The virus that causes COVID-19 most likely came from contact with a wildlife species in China such as bats. So can we catch the virus from animals?
WUSF’s Steve Newborn talks with Jonathan Sleeman, center director of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center, in Madison, Wisconsin.
He says people can still interact with their pets, but it’s best to avoid sick animals – and especially bats. He fears it could be transmitted in the U.S. into the bat population, and possibly other wild animals.
Get The 90.7 WMFE Newsletter
Your trusted news source for the latest Central Florida news, updates on special programs and more.
GET THE LATEST

WMFE Journalistic Ethics Code | Public Media Code of Integrity