To the Editor:

Earlier this week on PBS National news was a piece showing veterinary scientists at Penn State reporting they had found COVID-19 viral infections in white-tailed deer in certain locations of Pennsylvania. It had also been reported the deer seemingly are not suffering any sickness from these infections. Additional research, much of it underway, should soon provide more facts on these white-tailed deer infections.

As the New York State wildlife pathologist, I had examined thousands of white-tailed deer and authored a number of scientific papers regarding their diseases. In my mind, I could see hunters raising questions about consuming deer meat (venison) after seeing this news report. It is relatively easy that guidelines for field dressing and kitchen and cooking techniques will make for safe handling of deer by hunters and personnel with deer containing COVID virus.

In general, viral diseases such as this are easily controlled and killed by cooking the meat at approximately 165 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

This is another time to stress the need for vaccinations against COVID-19 virus for all of whom they are recommended. One can see the protection that it could provide to deer hunters, venison consumers, wildlife biologists and technicians, conservation officers, wildlife veterinarians, animal rehabilitators, zoo personnel that handle wild ungulates, plus academic researchers who work with wild deer that have the COVID virus.

The data on covid vaccinations is strong that they are protective of those who are fully vaccinated. This is one more reason why you should be fully vaccinated — especially if you are a deer hunter, cook deer meat, or handle captive and sick deer.

Even though at this point there are no documented cases of the transfer of COVID-19 from infected deer to humans, there is still great need for more research on wildlife and COVID infections around the world.

We should be watching for unusual wildlife mortalities and follow them up with thorough investigations. And, where present, we need definitive diagnosis to better understand the extent of COVID in wildlife around the world and their possible role in the epidemiology of COVID infections including in people.

Dr. Ward Stone

Troy