Page 16 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2021 What you should know about deer and COVID-19 T he Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has been receiving inquiries from hunters and others regarding COVID-19 and its eff ect on deer and other wildlife. While experts are still learning about this virus, currently there is no evidence that wildlife might be a source of infection for people in the United States, and there is no evidence that you can get COVID-19 by preparing or eating food, including hunted wild game meat. Research As a novel emerging disease, research is ongoing for COVID-19 and its impacts on wildlife. Multiple studies have found COVID-19 antibodies in wild North American mammals, including white-tailed deer. New studies are showing that wild deer have contracted multiple strains of COVID-19 from humans, and Ohio State University recently found active infection in wild Ohio deer using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Experimental research with captive deer has shown that COVID-19 can spread among deer; however, deer are only contagious for a short duration (less than seven days). Transmission risks The risk for transmission from deer to humans is likely very low due to the outdoor aspect of hunting and the short period of time deer are contagious with the virus. COVID-19 is primarily transmitted by inhaling aerosolized droplets. These droplets can come from respiration or from the digestive tract. Currently: • The transmission mode from humans to white-tailed deer is unknown. • There have been no known cases of humans contracting COVID-19 from deer. • There is no evidence people can contract COVID-19 by eating wild game. Tips for handling and preparing game To minimize the transmission risk of diseases, MassWildlife always recommends hunters use best practices for processing game: • Avoid handling or consuming wild animals that appear sick or those found dead. • Wear gloves and a face shield when handling, field dressing, and processing game. • When possible, process your game outdoors or in a well-ventilated location. • Use caution and minimize contact with the brain or spinal tissues. Out of an abundance of caution for COVID-19, additional preventative measures include avoiding the head, lungs and digestive tract. • Handle knives carefully to prevent accidental cuts. • Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling carcasses and before and after handling meat. • Thoroughly sanitize all tools and work surfaces used during processing with a bleach solution (one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon water). Consider keeping a separate set of knives used only for butchering game. • Cook game meat thoroughly to an internal temperature of 165 degrees to kill pathogens. AG Healey co-leads nationwide investigation into Instagram’s impact on young people M assachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey recently announced that she is co-leading a bipartisan, nationwide investigation into Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, for providing and promoting its social media platform Instagram to children and young adults despite knowing that such use is associated with physical and mental health harms. Attorneys general across the country are examining whether the company violated state consumer protection laws and put the public at risk. “Facebook, now Meta, has failed to protect young people on its platforms and instead chose to ignore or, in some cases, double down on known manipulations that pose a real threat to physical and mental health – exploiting children in the interest of profi t,” said Healey. “As Attorney General it is my job to protect young people from these online harms. I am co-leading a nationwide coalition to get to the bottom of this company’s engagement with young users, identify any unlawful practices, and end these abuses for good. Meta can no longer ignore the threat that social media can pose to children for the benefi t of their bottom line.” Her investigation targets, among other things, Meta’s techniques to increase the frequency and duration of engagement by young users and the resulting harms caused by such extended engagement. The announcement follows recent reports revealing that Meta’s own internal research shows that using Instagram is associated with increased risks of physical and mental health harms on young people, including depression, eating disorders and even suicide. Healey has long been conRISK | SEE Page 17
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