Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

February 20, 2020

Enteric involvement of coronaviruses: is faecal–oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 possible?

Category:

Topic:

  • Yeo et al. provide evidence from previous outbreaks to support fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV and that they can remain viable in different environmental conditions that could facilitate fecal-oral transmission. It is possible that 2019-nCoV could also be transmitted via this route. They advocate for research on the possibility of fecal-oral transmission of 2019-nCoV and environmental factors that favor survival and transmission.

Yeo et al. (Feb 19, 2020). Enteric involvement of coronaviruses: is faecal–oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 possible? Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30048-0