THE VETERINARIAN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS
1Dr. Smruti Smita Mohapatra and 2Dr. Arth B. Chaudhari
1Research Scholar
Dept. of Veterinary Physiology
Faculty of Veterinary & Animal Sciences
WBUAFS, Kolkata
2Assistant Professor
Dept. of Animal Genetics & Breeding
College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry
Kamdhenu University, Sardarkrishinagar, Gujarat
Introduction
COVID-19 is a zoonotic infection. Bats act as a reservoir to an intermediate host – pangolin and from there to humans (spill-over) in a similar transmission mechanism to those of the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronaviruses. The response of veterinarians has been the key to address the current pandemic. On the occasion of World Veterinary Day, which will be held on April 24, 2021 the OIE pays tribute to the great efforts made by the veterinary profession to support the human health sector, from research to human sample testing as well as provision of human and material resources. The global COVID-19 crisis is imposing sudden and unprecedented pressures on governments and industries around the world with virtually all sectors affected. However the veterinary and animal husbandry systems across nations are being uniquely impacted not only in relation to how they provide in the context of current social distancing and travel restrictions but also in terms of how they are being forced to anticipate and adapt to what could very well be a significantly changed labour market in the future.
Impact of COVID-19 on animal husbandry sector
Livestock have experienced the effect that COVID-19 has had on the food production sector. The impact was two-pronged during lockdown: the meat trade was disrupted while simultaneously feeding habits of the consumers has changed. With restaurants, markets, schools and canteens closed, people sought more basic ingredients (flour and eggs) and preferred more cost-effective types of meat over expensive non-vegetarian food items. Locally sourced food and online shopping have become more convenient. While the market can absorb some changes by using warehouse storage, this is not possible for any length of time or for every perishable milk and meat product. As a result, some farmers have not been able to sell their animals. Abattoirs, meat processing and packaging plants became hot spots for COVID-19. This has been observed in many European and American countries as well as globally. Slaughter houses have had to close down for a longer time. This has led to welfare problems due to overcrowding on farms. Animals have been re-routed to other abattoirs, had their diets changed to slow their growth and culled. Companion animals have also suffered due to the effects of COVID-19. People have abandoned their animals due to fear of the virus. Some have been relinquished because their owners had to move out of an infected area or be hospitalised. The number of adoptions has increased. At the height of the pandemic, veterinarians stipulated that only urgent or emergency procedures absolutely necessary for the veterinary healthcare of companion animals could take place. Delays in routine care such as vaccination and parasite prevention has led to some serious health and welfare problems as well as an overflow of work after the restrictions were lifted which has created additional delays in the delivery of these services. The most worrisome is the potential impact that the economic recession has on the ability of owners to pay for healthcare and feed for their animals. This is of particular concern for animals that are more expensive to keep, such as horses, which have steep maintenance costs. This is pertinent in the light of the economic recession which has resulted in a large increase in horse euthanasia and abandonment in various countries.
How veterinarians are responding to the COVID-19 crisis
Veterinary systems are in urgent need of a package of support measures to strengthen their capacity to respond to these current challenges as well as to adapt and respond effectively to both anticipated and unanticipated changes in labour market requirements. A range of examples point to good practices that can be replicated across the country in response to COVID-19.
- Participation in COVID-19 as frontline workers
In the field of laboratory animal medicine, many veterinary research institutions had to temporarily pause their facilities and find ways to continue to care for the animals on site. At the same time, the direction of veterinary research has shifted to support the response to COVID-19 in terms of testing facilities. There is an increase in demand for transgenic mice and ferrets for use in research directed towards vaccines and treatments. Veterinary services, as defined by the OIE, include all official and private veterinarians, who provide important animal and public health disease surveillance to prevent infectious outbreaks and zoonotic diseases. They ensure food security so that people have safe food to eat by ensuring only healthy animals and their products can enter the food chain. Veterinarians provide ongoing medical care and oversight as well as surgical and emergency services to ill and injured animals. Veterinary services include the national and regional veterinary regulatory and inspection services that oversee the integrity of public health. They supervise veterinary services provided in animal hospitals, mobile clinics, ambulatory services, zoos, etc. They oversee the care of laboratory animals, which are critical to research medicines and vaccines, including vaccine research against viruses such as COVID-19.
- One Health approach
Although COVID-19 has largely impacted on human health, collaborative efforts have been recognised and acknowledged regarding the connection between animal and human health, an interrelationship inherent in the One Health concept. Veterinary laboratories support COVID-19 testing for humans. Veterinarians in the country have volunteered in RT-PCR tests and veterinary practices provided equipment such as ventilators. In a novel example of humans and animals working side by side, sniffer dogs are trained to detect COVID-19 in patients. Dogs are now being used to sniff passengers at airports to detect COVID-19. Solutions for dealing with the consequences of both the virus and our response to it have again brought to light the importance of One Health and the crucial role of veterinarians in the society. Recognising and documenting these One Health impacts during the pandemic has facilitated robust discussions and a more holistic approach among those participating in the response. Veterinary practitioners wanting to donate PPE or other medical supplies, or wanting to volunteer as ancillary personnel, are encouraged to first reach out to their local and state veterinary associations to see if current local or state orders to do so exist and/or if the veterinary associations have established a system to coordinate donations or volunteer participation. Direct collaboration between local state veterinary associations and local and state emergency management operation centres and agencies facilitates identification and fulfilment of needs, helps to ensure appropriate resource allocations and allows more direct coordination with federal emergency management efforts as needed. It is encouraged to start locally. This helps not only to direct materials to where they are immediately needed, but also conserves resources required such as people and transportation to get those materials transferred.
- Increasing use of online and virtual platforms
Many countries are encouraging and supporting providers in making use of distance-learning tools wherever possible to ensure the continuity of veterinary learning. Major private practitioners are also providing their online consultation free of charge. While distance learning cannot completely replace in-person training, and its effectiveness depends on the occupation, it can nonetheless help learners to remain engaged and continue to make progress in their studies. These efforts at online delivery and communications can enhance one-to-one digital and real-world interactions between learners, learning providers and employers. Subsidising training, including the introduction of free online skill development courses at least during the pandemic, can help.
In the context of lockdowns, social distancing and travel restrictions, the main challenge for existing veterinary students, including apprentices, is not being able to learn in classrooms, school workshops or workplaces. In some occupational fields, theory can be taught and learned online, but practical aspects cannot be effectively delivered because of a lack of access to tools, materials, equipment and machinery. It is reasonable to expect a reduction in vet enrolments (and therefore fewer prospective apprenticeships) for the coming academic year, partly due to uncertainty as to whether students can effectively access education, whether a vet programme can be effectively provided online, and whether students can complete all the requirements necessary to be enrolled on time.
- Flexible skills assessment and award of qualifications
In veterinary healthcare, a direct route to qualification is needed to be established quickly in response to the COVID-19 crisis. For experienced adult workers, countries should establish direct access routes to the qualifications – either through direct access to examination or by topping up partially missing skills with modular training. For apprentices who have had their apprenticeship programmes interrupted, direct access to examinations and assessments can be offered. Fast-track licenses can be provided. In the sectors with shortages or expected shortages such as medical and health care sectors, some countries are issuing short-term, fast-track licenses. For example, Canada is leveraging unlicensed internationally trained health professionals and recent medical school graduates to fight COVID-19. This measure can have a significant impact on the crisis response, as there are 19 000 foreign-educated doctors and nurses who are not working in their fields. British Columbia amended the province’s Health Professions Act so that international medical graduates can apply for a supervised associate physician licence.
- Retraining of redeployed workers
If the lockdown becomes lengthy and leads to the redeployment of workers, retraining of these workers may be necessary. Veterinarians who have to work in environments susceptible to infectious disease and cannot telework or those working in sectors hit hard by COVID-19 because of supply chain disruptions or decreases in demand may need further training to reskill. Veterinary systems should be prepared for such cases. Informing, engaging and communicating with learners, livestock workers, providers and social partners need special attention.
- Best health and safety practices for veterinary clinics
Veterinarians are assessing their clients’ needs by utilizing telemedicine. The FDA has started to temporarily ease up on certain requirements for veterinarians to make it easier for them to prescribe medications via video chat. Helping clients with their pets has made visits more manageable from a health safety perspective. Many veterinary clinics and multispeciality hospitals meet clients at their cars, bringing the animals in via leash or carrier. This allows the owner to stay in the vehicle and reduce human-to-human interaction.
Steps to build strong and resilient veterinary systems post COVID-19
To mitigate future skills shortages and minimise the shock of the crisis, countries are investing in veterinary department and building skills. The immediate concern of countries today is rightfully how to overcome the immediate crisis. Digital conferencing is necessary. In particular, given that occupations involving routine tasks are being transformed, restructured or disappearing entirely due to increasing levels of automation, veterinary systems will need to focus more on those occupations demanding higher levels of autonomy, planning, team-work, communication and customer service skills that are more able to resist automation. Providing financial assistance to veterinary systems and learners to undertake training in more future-proof sectors and occupations will be critical to economic recovery in the long-term. Stimulus packages can be better used to reskill, retrain and upskills veterinarians in occupations at a high risk of automation or restructuring – as well as unemployed people – into more resilient, future-oriented and higher skilled ones. Capitalising on the demand for digital, distance offerings by exploring options for innovative, digital pedagogical approaches is important. Building infrastructures and examining policies and regulations with regard to the awarding of micro-credentials and digital badges to ensure that progress made in the offering of vets at a distance can be appropriately rewarded with qualifications in a timely and effective manner. With the current crisis, it is crucial that, amongst other activities linked to animal disease prevention and management and food and feed safety and security, veterinary services can ensure that critical situations can be adequately managed when animal welfare is at risk.
This pandemic impacts populations in numerous ways and reminds us that multi-sectoral collaboration, in line with the “One Health” approach, and the sharing of expertise are more important than ever. This pandemic awakens the need for longstanding and sustainable One Health collaboration which can take many forms. Beyond collaborative research, the animal health sector, and veterinary services can contribute in various ways towards building a common response to the pandemic. Veterinarians have shown their commitment to support the work of human health authorities. Veterinary laboratories have used their experience and expertise in high throughput testing capacity of COVID-19 to engage in activities such as surveillance screening, by testing human samples and supporting the diagnostic capacity of human health services. Some veterinary clinics have been donating essential materials such as personal protective equipment and ventilators. Veterinary professionals have been volunteering in hospitals and laboratories when human resources were not sufficient. Veterinary epidemiologists have been supporting their counterparts in the public health response to track the disease in humans and to support the development of effective public health interventions.
Conclusion
In conjunction with crisis management effort, it should not be forgotten, that on a daily basis, the activities of veterinary services contribute to addressing critical needs, which are heavily challenged in the current circumstances: food security and safety, as well as livelihoods are intrinsically linked to sound animal production systems. It is crucial that veterinary services continue to implement their multiple activities, which contribute to ensure a continuum in safe food provision for populations and to sustain their subsistence. The downstream effects of COVID-19 on economies, animal health, and food security remain as important as ever. Through its mission to set animal health and welfare standards, to inform, and to build capacity, the OIE is fully mobilised to accompany veterinary services across the world to address the situation. It has put in place a response mechanism to support them in several aspects of their work. The OIE liaises closely with its tripartite partners – WHO and FAO. Several OIE expert groups are developing scientific advice on research priorities, sharing results of on-going research in animals, and developing scientific opinion on the implications of COVID-19 for animal health and veterinary public health. The OIE has also developed high level guidance for veterinary laboratories working with public health services to support testing of human samples and is currently developing guidance on the circumstances under which exceptional testing of animals might be justified. Looking to the future the OIE is working with its wildlife working group, member countries and international partners to develop an ambitious work programme which aims to reduce and manage risk of spillover events between wildlife, livestock and humans. The unprecedented nature of this pandemic and the mysteries around this virus require new and innovative approaches to tackle it; these will only be developed through cross sectoral collaboration and collective action. Researchers are using environmental surveillance to identify future pandemic threats. A universal programme brings veterinarians, microbiologists and epidemiologists together to identify whether COVID-19 exists in different animal populations and the likelihood that those animals could harbour mutations and potentially pass COVID-19 back to humans in a new form. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a potential rise in food insecurity. So many countries and organisations are mounting special efforts to keep agriculture running safely as an essential business, ensuring that markets are well supplied within affordable and nutritious food and the consumers are still able to access and purchase food despite movement restrictions and income losses. Animals play an important role in our society. Not only do they constitute a significant part of our food chain, but they are also our loving companions and often our co-workers. The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the welfare of animals of all kinds. Thus the response of veterinarians to COVID-19 has been fulfilling in every aspect.
