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Sniffer dogs test travellers for coronavirus at Helsinki airport

Video. Barking up the right tree? Dogs used to sniff out COVID-19 in Finland

Updated:

Sniffer dogs are usually used to detect drugs or explosives. But at Helsinki airport in Finland, they're being utilised to test for coronavirus.

Sniffer dogs are usually used to detect drugs or explosives. But at Helsinki airport in Finland, they're being utilised to test for coronavirus. 

A pilot project is providing instant and pain-free COVID-19 testing on the spot.

The canines have already sniffed more than 2,000 test samples since their booth was set up a month ago. 

Passengers wipe themselves with a cloth and then drop the sample into a container, which the dogs then sniff. 

Earlier this year, researchers found that dogs can detect the virus with close to perfect accuracy, up to five days earlier than a PCR test.

**Watch more about this and the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the travel industry in the video player, above. **

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