Monkey Business?

The Barbary macaque colony on Gibraltar has been described as 'Europe's only wild monkeys'. This is, however, a somehat dubious claim, as these primates probably originated from pets left behind by garrisoned British soldiers. These popular (with tourists) primates are being examined by vets, on a daily basis, in an attempt to ensure they remain uninfected by Covid-19 (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/26/gibraltar-vets-make-daily-patrols-to-check-macaques-for-coronavirus). The macaques normally spend quite a lot of time (begging for food et cetera) in close proximity to humans. Their similarity to our species also suggests they are likely to be susceptible to the virus. It would be sad if the macaques contracted Covid-19 but it could also prove dangerous to human health. A new host provides new opportunities for viral mutations. Humans could get a new, 'improved' viral strain back if we are not careful.