WASHINGTON - A group of scientists in the United States have been studying COVID-19 in animals and the environment to identify the origin of the deadly virus and the potential source of future pandemic threats, according to a recent report by ABC7 Eyewitness News.

"We know that this virus can jump species and what we want to know next, or be able to tell as early as possible, is what other species can it be in?" said Vanessa Hale, an assistant professor with Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine at the Ohio State University.

Hale and a team of microbiologists and other scientists are part of a program named eScout, according to the news media in Southern California.

The program is designed to identify the virus in different animals and determine if those animals are harboring mutations that could spread COVID-19 back to humans.

"We're testing deer, squirrels, mink, rabbits and working closely with a lot of different community members, including other veterinarians and veterinary clinics to test things like ferrets as well. We're also testing pigs at agricultural fairs. So, state and county fairs where pigs may be coming together for shows," Hale was quoted as saying.

The scientists are also monitoring wastewater and urban runoff for the SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine what strain of the virus is circulating, which they said will be important in long-term COVID-19 prevention measures.