The outbreak of COVID-19 in humans is a concern worldwide, but coronaviruses are common for livestock and poultry, a Texas A&M AgriLife expert says.
Many people are hearing about coronavirus for the first time as COVID-19 cases spread around the world. But coronaviruses are not new to livestock and poultry producers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife veterinary epidemiologist.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common human coronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold. Most people get infected with one or more of these viruses at some point in their lives.
But the CDC is now responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel or new coronavirus that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China.
“Coronavirus is a common virus in livestock herds and poultry flocks seen routinely worldwide,” said Heather Simmons, DVM and associated director of the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases. She also is Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s associate department head and extension program leader for Veterinary Medical Extension. The Institute of Infectious Animal Diseases is a member of the Texas A&M University System and Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
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