For the first time in Italy, anti Covid-19 dogs at Cuneo Airport
Levaldigi airport pilot of the project launched in collaboration with the Finnish start-up Nose Academy Oy
Cuneo Airport has kicked off the new initiative that involves the use of dogs for the detection of Covid-19, promoted by I-SEC Italia srl, a company specializing in airport security services, in collaboration with GEAC. The project, unique in Italy, makes use of the collaboration of the Finnish company Nose Academy Oy, the scientific research start-up specialized in dog training, able to detect diseases in humans through the sense of smell. The Cuneo airport is the pilot airport of the project in Italy; the advanced training phase of the dogs has already begun, made available by the Carabinieri Association and by the AVSOSLJ Amici Volontari Soccorso of Milan, which will continue in the Maxiemergenza 118 premises prepared by the Inter-company 118 Department of the Piedmont Region. Partner of the initiative is also BIOS of Mondovì, which provides samples useful for training.
“The goal is to activate the service for arriving passengers as early as February – he explains Anna Milanese , director of Cuneo Airport -. In detail, the method adopted at Cuneo Airport involves the use of special wipes, a means that has already proved to be extremely functional: easy to handle, simple to use even without the aid of health professionals, and easy to dispose of. The results are processed according to the research protocol of Ville Pimenoff, researcher at the Karolinska Institut ”. “We are proud to introduce in Italy a methodology that has already revealed a high potential in Finland and we hope that its application will play a significant role in protecting the health of travelers and citizens, contributing to the recovery of the civil aviation sector” – declares Barbara Sarfatti of I-SEC Italia srl.
“We are very interested in sharing participation in this valuable project, especially for the final results that could come from this experimentation – finally adds Mario Raviolo , director of the regional Maxiemergenza 118 -. In fact, very interesting but still unexplored future scenarios could open up, not only in the airport field, but also in other sectors of medical science “.
A similar program has already been successfully conducted by Nose Academy Oy at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport between September and December 2020, with the participation of the University of Helsinki. Out of 6,000 samples examined over this period, the dogs reported 35 positive cases. The first data of the experiment, very encouraging, demonstrate the accuracy of the results, about 95%, and the ability of dogs to identify those carrying the virus even five days before they possibly show symptoms. The effectiveness, speed and non-invasive modality of this screening tool could mark a decisive turning point to give new impetus to the aviation sector, thus severely tested by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The opportunity to participate in this project – concludes Anna Milanese – is a source of pride as we are the first in Italy to apply an innovative method to combat the spread of the virus. Above all, we can give our contribution to the safe recovery of air transport, offering effective and rapid screening for all passengers who want to undergo the test ”.
