The presence of faecal matter, where traces of virus are detectable, in flatulence raises questions about their infectious potential.
- There is currently no evidence that viral material found in stool is infectious.
- The World Health Organization has classified the risk of catching Covid-19 through contact with the stool of an infected person as “low”.
- Being able to catch Covid through flatulence seems highly unlikely, with clothes also playing the role of a filter.
It is known that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by droplets generated by speaking, sneezing or even coughing. On April 6, 2020, an Australian doctor, Andy Tagg, wondered on Twitter if flatulence could not also be a vector for transmission of the virus. The virus having been detected in the faeces – which allows in particular the analysis of waste water which provides valuable information on the circulation of the virus -, the doctor affirms that its diffusion through farts is possible but that this remains to be confirmed. .
Is farting an aerosol-generating procedure?
On tweetorial… pic.twitter.com/XOuMzNXSQp
— Andrew Tagg (@andrewjtagg) April 6, 2020
WHO classifies risk of stool infection as ‘low’
The presence of fecal matter in flatulence suggests that farts can be vectors for transmission of the virus. But while the coronavirus was indeed found in the feces of some of those infected, there was “no confirmed fecal-oral transmission“, advance US health authorities. In addition, there is currently no evidence that this viral material found in stool is infectious. The World Health Organization thus classifies the risk of catching Covid-19 through contact with the stool of an infected person as “weak”. But because there is a risk, the WHO advises people to wash their hands regularly after using the toilet and before eating.
Past coronavirus outbreaks, such as SARS and MERS, provide insight into the risk presented by the current pandemic. Based on these, the risk appears minimal, note the American authorities. However, during the 2003 SARS outbreak, there were cases of transmission of the virus associated with sewage aerosols in Hong Kong. “Places with modern plumbing today, this is also an unlikely form of spread, as faeces are flushed down the toilet and the system prevents gases from rising”, affirms for USA Today Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.
Clothes act like masks
Beyond the possible transmissibility of the virus through stools and therefore potentially through gases, the presence of clothing serves as a filter and prevents aerosols from escaping, like masks. “There’s also social distancing which is important, and honestly a good rule of etiquette for life in general is not to fart around other people.”, adds Ravina Kullar, expert in infectious diseases for theInfectious Diseases Society of America.
In conclusion, it seems very unlikely to be able to transmit the virus through flatulence. “Although this is theoretically possible, there is no evidence that it is possible and this does not seem to be a reason for people to be concerned about contracting Covid-19 from gas”, concluded William Schaffner.
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