SARS-CoV-2 Appears to Be Declining in Animals, Yale Researchers Report

During the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in a growing number of animal species, including wildlife and companion animals such as dogs and cats. In some species—most notably white-tailed deer and mink—the virus spread efficiently, accumulated mutations, and spilled back into humans, raising concern about animals serving as long-term reservoirs for novel variants.