A recent study has warned that rats in New York City are harboring Covid-19, which could pose a significant threat to humans. The study, conducted by researchers at Columbia University and the University of Georgia , stated that if the virus were to spread through rat populations in the city, it could lead to a significant increase in Covid-19 cases and potentially overwhelm the healthcare system.
The researchers collected samples from rats in five different neighborhoods in the city and found that a significant number of them had been infected with the virus. While the rats themselves are unlikely to suffer from Covid-19, they could spread it to humans in the densely populated city.
The researchers have called for increased monitoring of rat populations and for measures to be put in place to prevent the potential spread of the virus.
According to the WHO: “Globally, nearly 4.5 million new cases and 32 000 deaths were reported in the last 28 days (6 February to 5 March 2023), a decrease of 58% and 65%, respectively, compared to the previous 28 days. As of 5 March 2023, over 759 million confirmed cases and over 6.8 million deaths have been reported globally."
