Sniffer dogs will soon be used to help sniff out COVID-19 cases at Sharjah International Airport.
This comes after previous trials at Dubai Airport, which have so far been a success. The dogs learn to detect the virus (or rather, how its human host smells) from testing samples at a special training facility.
These dogs can then detect COVID-19 in just seconds.
Currently, the UAE uses K9 officers to help secure land, sea and air ports. The dogs are used to help sniff out contraband and those trying to sneak into the country. The UAE has 80 K9 officers, as well as 32 trainers.
Dogs have been used for centuries for their keen sense of smell, which is reportedly more than 50 times better than that of humans.
The UAE was one of the first countries to utilize sniffer dogs in COVID detection. In July, Emirates News Agency said it was “the first country in the world” to put them into service. Since then, several other countries have followed suit.
Using sniffer dogs is one of the least intrusive ways to detect the virus in humans. It requires no swabs or blood tests. If one of the sniffer dogs thinks it detects the virus, potential passengers will then be asked to take a further test to corroborate the K9 unit’s assessment.
In other news, the UAE has been using K9 units since July. Check out how they are being trained here.
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