Deer can catch COVID: Here's what hunters should know
Research has shown that , raising questions among some hunters about whether field-dressing deer or eating venison can pose a risk of contracting the disease.
"At this point, deer are not considered a significant vector for spreading COVID-19, but there are some simple things hunters can do to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19 and keep themselves and their loved ones safe," says Ellen Shumaker, a food safety expert at NC State.
With that in mind, Shumaker and her colleagues on the FoodCOVNet team, led by NC State, have created aimed specifically at sharing information with hunters.
Here are the best practices they outline for reducing COVID-19 risk when hunting deer:
- Wear a face covering when in close contact with a breathing deer.
- Wear gloves while field dressing deer.
- Wash hands thoroughly after hunting, handling any part of the deer carcass and/or handling raw meat.
- Keep raw meat and other carcass parts away from ready-to-eat food.
- Cook deer meat to a minimum internal temperature of 158°F
The FoodCOVNet team has also assembled a host of online resources providing , as well as to reduce your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
Provided by North Carolina State University