COVID-sniffing dogs now on duty at Miami International Airport
Back in August 2020, Helsinki Airport (HEL) and Dubai International Airport (DXB) tested COVID-detecting dogs. Now Miami International Airport (MIA) is the first US airport to pilot a program with canines that can sniff out COVID-19.
The detector dogs – Cobra (a Belgian Malinois) and 'One Betta (a Dutch Shepherd) – are specially trained by the Global Forensic and Justice Center (GFJC) at Florida International University (FIU) to alert to the scent of COVID-19. Both dogs are currently stationed at an American Airlines employee security checkpoint.
COVID-19 can, evidently, be sniffed out because the virus causes metabolic changes in a person that result in the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Those VOCs are excreted by a person's breath and in their sweat, producing a scent that trained dogs can detect. The metabolic changes are common for all people, regardless of their individual scents.
In the MIA pilot program, if a dog indicates an individual is carrying the odor of the virus, that person is directed to get a rapid COVID test, which is available at the airport. If that test is positive, the employee will then be asked to leave, and quarantine based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance. During the pilot, employees have a right to refuse the screening.
"The COVID-19 detector dog pilot program is the latest effort by MIA to serve as a test bed for new innovations in safety and security," said Ralph Cutié, Miami International Airport interim director, in a statement. "We are proud to do our part in the fight against COVID-19, and we hope to see this pilot program potentially benefit the rest of Miami-Dade County and airports across the country."
Detector dogs like Cobra and 'One Better have proven to be among the most reliable tools available to identify substances based on the odors they emit. At MIA, federal and local agencies already use detector dogs to sniff out prohibited currency, drugs, explosives, and agriculture. And in previous studies detector dogs have been trained to reliably detect people with diseases such as diabetes, epilepsy, and some cancers.
"Being able to apply decades of research in this way, to provide an additional layer of protection to airport employees at Miami International Airport, it's humbling," said Kenneth G. Furton, FIU provost and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, said in a statement. "These dogs are another valuable tool we can leverage to help us live with this ongoing pandemic."
Cobra and 'One Betta are old hands at this sniffing business. "They were also trained to detect Laurel Wilt in avocado trees in Florida and Rapid Ohi'a Death in Ohi'a trees in Hawaii using the same scientifically backed protocols," Furton told The Points Guy.
The MIA COVID-sniffing pilot is operating a bit differently than the ones that took place in Dubai and Helsinki airports.
In both of those cases, the dogs were not near the humans, says Furton. "The passengers wiped their sweat from their underarms or skin, and the sample was brought to the dogs that then did the detection work." At MIA, the employees are asked to remove their masks and then the dogs go down a line, smelling each one to determine if the presence of COVID is there. "It's a little faster, only because you do not have to collect a sample for the dogs to start their work," Furton explains.
At MIA the pilot program was originally scheduled to run from August 23 to September, but it has already been extended another 30 days into October so more data can be gathered.
"It's receiving great feedback," says Furton, "And more importantly, it allows us as a research institution to collect more valuable data. We're going to be living with this virus for a while, and we want to know as much as we can on how to adapt to keep up our daily lives."
Photos courtesy of Miami International Airport.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.