A new study found that white-tailed deer on Staten Island, New York, were infected with the COVID-19 Omicron variant, triggering concerns that the variant could spread via animals. The study, which is in preprint and was published on the BioxRiv website, was carried out on Staten Island between Dec. 12, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022. They found that of the 131 deer that were sampled, 19 tested positive for having Omicron antibodies, suggesting a prior exposure to the virus. PCR testing of 68 deer found that about four tested positive for Omicron. The research, the study found, “highlights an urgent need for comprehensive surveillance of susceptible animal species to identify ecological transmission networks and better assess the potential risks of spillback to humans.” Previously, scientists have reported COVID-19 variants in deer across the United States. However, the Staten Island study appears to be the first to confirm that Omicron has been …