Can pests spread the coronavirus?
There is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. As people are taking the proper precautions to prevent the spread of this disease, some may be wondering, can pests spread the coronavirus?
COVID-19, a novel (new) coronavirus, was first identified in Wuhan, China in December, 2019. Although this newly identified coronavirus likely came from an animal, it is now spreading person-to-person. According to Stan Cope from AP&G, there is no evidence that COVID-19, or any coronavirus, is spread through vector pests*.
So far, there is no reason to believe that any animals or pests in the could be the source of infection for COVID-19.
Since this strain of coronavirus is transmitted ‘person-to-person’, it is not a ‘vector borne’ disease. For example,
say a mosquito bites someone who has Zika virus in their bloodstream. That mosquito can transmit the virus to another person in 10 days or so. Luckily, this is not the case for COVID-19.
The virus primarily spreads through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.
Obviously, there are many concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus 2019. This is an unsettling time for us all as we all try to navigate the unpredictability of COVID-19. One less thing to worry about is getting infected from pests and insects.
*Vector pests are pests that transmit many critical diseases to humans worldwide. Some examples of vector pests include mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks.
Make sure to go to the CDC website for the most up to date and accurate COVID-19 information.
If you are a current or future customer of Advanced Termite and Pest control, here is the information on how we are continuing business during the coronavirus pandemic.