Dr Jane Parker, Director of our Flavour Centre is working with clinicians and sensory scientists on a global survey to track the loss of smell and/or taste reported in detailed studies to provide more evidence linking anosmia to Covid-19. This is in response to the recent UK Government Covid-19 announcement, based on World Health Organization publication, to include anosmia as a possible Covid-19 symptom.
The inclusion of sudden anosmia is important as it may be an early – and sometimes the only – symptom of Covid-19 infection. The indications are that if we were all to respond to this cue by self-isolating, it could reduce the spread of the virus.