Newsletter Signup
The Austin Monitor thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Most Popular Stories
- For the first time in 20 years, more people are leaving Travis County than moving in
- Austin’s giant troll is finally finished. Here’s where you can find her.
- Travis County approves ambitious ‘Marshall Plan’ for northeast planning district
- Environmental commissioners air concerns about waterfront district plan
- Council hears plan for another South Congress PUD
-
Discover News By District
Covid cat study creeps forward on little paws
Friday, April 22, 2022 by Tai Moses
City Council has approved a $65,000 grant to fund a study on coronavirus in cats. The Austin Humane Society and Austin Animal Center, partnering with Texas A&M and the Texas Department of State Health Services, will examine whether there are coronaviruses “circulating or mutating among animals that could potentially pose a risk to humans.” AHS’ Dr. Katie Luke said in a news release, “There is still a lot we don’t know about coronavirus and how it mutates, so we hope this study will help to identify best practices moving forward, and help understand potential sources of mutated viruses that affect human health.” How will it work? “The subjects for the study will come from Travis County’s Community Cats program, and will only contribute a throat swab during their spay/neuter procedures. After that, “The samples will be sent to Texas A&M, where experts will determine if coronavirus is present. If the virus is detected, they will run more specific tests to identify whether it’s feline coronavirus, SARS CoV-2, or a different coronavirus. Positive samples for SARS CoV-2 will be sent to the National Veterinary Diagnostic Lab for confirmation and gene sequencing to identify if there are mutations. Finally, the Texas Department of State Health Services will assist in reporting the findings to the CDC.”
Join Your Friends and Neighbors
We're a nonprofit news organization, and we put our service to you above all else. That will never change. But public-service journalism requires community support from readers like you. Will you join your friends and neighbors to support our work and mission?