{"id":82,"date":"2020-05-19T18:02:23","date_gmt":"2020-05-19T18:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/publichealth.sdsu.edu\/covid-19\/?page_id=82"},"modified":"2023-10-29T19:13:05","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T19:13:05","slug":"other-routes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/other-routes\/","title":{"rendered":"Other Routes"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Household Animals<\/h2>\n

[Publication date of latest article cited: October 13, 2023]<\/p>\n

Cats have moderate risk of COVID-19 transmission, dogs a low risk, and rodents have high to low risk, because of the degree of similarity of their angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the molecule on the outside of cells that SARS-CoV-2 attaches to (Damas et al.<\/a>; Howard<\/a>; Rosenke et al.<\/a>; Shojaee et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Household mammals could function as a vector and reservoir of SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n

Experiments found that cats can be infected with SARS-CoV-2 by intranasal inoculation and by staying near an infected cat, indicating respiratory droplet transmission (Gaudreault et al.<\/a>;\u00a0Halfmann et al.<\/a>; Kansas State University<\/a>; Shi et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Cats living in human communities have had COVID-19 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Confirmation…”<\/a>; Schulz et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Both stray and domestic cats in Wuhan had antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 after the epidemic started, but not before, perhaps indicating infection from humans and cats (Zhang Q, Zhang H, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Since stray cats typically interact minimally and indirectly with humans, this shows how transmissible this virus is.\u00a0 A serology survey of domestic cats in Germany in April \u2013 September 2020 found their antibody prevalence (0.69%) was similar to humans (0.85%), indicating natural transmission (Michelitsh et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Cats and humans can transmit SARS-CoV-2 to each other.\u00a0\u00a0When infected humans lived with cats, most cats did not get infected (Barrs et al.<\/a>; Suharsono et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Infected cats had vomiting, appetite loss, cough, pnuemonia, and difficulty breathing (dyspnea) (Natale et al.<\/a>) , as shown in the videos in this article: (Garigliany et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Cats can also get infected with feline coronavirus (FCoV, FECOV, or FECV), which has structures and functions partly similar and partly different from SARS-CoV-2 (Acheson; Ryu).\u00a0 So if a cat had FECOV, that probably did not cause immunity to SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n

Dogs have also been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in laboratories and households (Kim D-H et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Experiments with intranasal inoculation found dogs transmitted less efficiently than cats (Shi et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Several times dogs were infected, perhaps by their owners (Decaro et al.<\/a>; Office International des \u00c9pizooties<\/a>). \u00a0 But sometimes infected humans did not transmit to their dogs (Suharsono et al.<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The US CDC recommends that if people and animals live together, both animals and people should similarly take precautions and seek treatment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Confirmation”<\/a> “If you have pets…”<\/a>, “COVID-19.and Animals..”<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household.<\/p>\n

Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people.<\/p>\n

Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals.<\/p>\n

Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather.<\/p>\n

If \u00a0a person or animal is sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact and stay isolated from\u00a0 other people and animals.<\/p>\n

If a person or animal goes to a doctor, nurse, veterinarian, etc., tell the health professional about any exposed or sick people or animals in your home.<\/p>\n

Some peri-domestic animals have SARS-CoV-2, and some do not. These are animals that depend on living near humans, but humans can control them only a little. \u00a0For example, some urban rats are infected with SARS-CoV-2, have no COVID-19 symptoms, and could be transmitting it back and forth with humans, as a reservoir (Wang Y, Lenoch, et al.<\/a>). \u00a0 Houseflies near hospitals had SARS-CoV-2 RNA both inside and outside.\u00a0 This shows they hypothetically could transmit either mechanically or biologically, but does not prove they actually did transmit (Soltani, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Scientists tried putting SARS-CoV-2 into stomachs and cells of several species of biting midges and mosquitoes, and none were infected.\u00a0 This shows they probably cannot transmit COVID-19 (Balaraman et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Fomite Surfaces<\/h2>\n

[Publication date of latest article cited: September 19, 2023]<\/p>\n

SARS_CoV-2 could also spread on fomite surfaces (Anelich et al.<\/a>; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u201cScientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 Transmission\u201d<\/a>; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention \u201cScientific Brief: SARS-CoV-2 and Surface\u201d<\/a>; Lee E, Wada, et al.<\/a>; Marzoli et al.<\/a>; Onakpoya et al.<\/a>; Wang C, Prather K, et al.<\/a>; WHO \u201cCoronavirus disease (COVID-19): How is it transmitted?\u201d<\/a>).\u00a0 Hands touching these virus-laden surfaces could transfer viruses to nose, eyes, or mouth (Brosseau “COVID-19 Transmission Messages”<\/a>; Kwok<\/a>).\u00a0 Scientists using PCR found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in many places near infected people (Onakpoya et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 For example, in a laboratory study SARS-CoV-2 was on 65% of surfaces near infected people (Adenaiye et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 In a Nebraska hospital, 65% – 82% of room surfaces, personal items, and toilets had SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Santarpia, Rivera, et al.<\/a>). \u00a0In hospitals in Wuhan, scientists found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on many surfaces in patient areas, ICUs, medical staff areas, and public areas. \u00a0They suspected that when patients coughed and breathed, the virus-laden droplets and aerosols deposited on surfaces (Guo et al.<\/a>; Liu Y, Ning, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Patients who exhaled millions of SARS-CoV-2 viruses into the air also left SARS-CoV-2 on some, but not all of, the surfaces around them (Ma et al<\/a>).\u00a0 In a Singapore hospital, PCR found SARS-CoV-2 on several high and low touch surfaces, even after daily cleaning of the high touch surfaces.\u00a0 This was associated with the first few days of the patients\u2019 illness.\u00a0 PCR also found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the air of most patients\u2019 rooms, in particles sized >4\u2009\u00b5m and 1\u20134\u2009\u00b5m, even though none had aerosol-generating procedures or intranasal oxygen supplementation (Chia et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Surfaces had viral RNA even in the rooms used by a patient with only mild upper respiratory symptoms, in rooms without viral RNA in the air (Ong et al.<\/a>), and rooms with asymptomatic infected people (Wei L, Lin, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Even 12-47 days after symptom onset, surface samples around patients had SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Feng B, Xu K, et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In London hospitals, RT-qPCR found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on most surfaces in most patients\u2019 rooms, staff rooms, and a public area.\u00a0 They could not culture the viruses, perhaps because of low concentrations or long times since viruses were deposited (Zhou J, Otter, et al.<\/a>). \u00a0This might be explained by other fomite studies finding that \u201cAlthough infectious virus was undetectable after 48 hours, viral RNA remained detectable for 7 days\u201d (Matson et al.<\/a>; van Doremalen et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In places where COVID-19 infected people lived or visited, scientists found varying amounts of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces.\u00a0 For example, on publicly-used surfaces early in the pandemic, most surfaces had SARS-CoV-2 RNA occasionally (Harvey A, Fuhrmeister, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 On one of the cruise ships having many infected passengers, scientists found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on many surfaces in rooms of both asymptomatic and symptomatic infected passengers 17 days after the passengers left. \u00a0This shows that the viral RNA can remain there that long, maybe longer, but does not completely prove that this caused transmission (Moriarty et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Some public playground surfaces and water fountains had SARS-CoV-2 RNA (Kozer et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 2.3% of sampled surfaces in Atlanta grocery stores had SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 2021 (Brown TW, Park, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Community people\u2019s bank notes and coins had no SARS-CoV-2 RNA, their plastic money cards had little RNA, and neither had viable virus.\u00a0 In vitro tests spotting SARS-CoV-2 on bank notes reduced viable viruses by >99% in 30 minutes, and none in 24 hours. \u00a0On coins and plastic money cards, viable viruses reduced by 90% in 30 minutes, but some remained by 48 hours. \u00a0This shows that money and plastic money cards probably transmit little SARS-CoV-2 between people (Newey et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Scientists also suspected that viruses moved from surfaces to the air.\u00a0 People could disturb virus-laden droplet deposits on surfaces, such as when taking off medical clothing (Guo et al.<\/a>; Liu Y, Ning, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 For other examples, experiments found that guinea pig hair can transmit influenza to other guinea pigs, and rubbing tissue paper can disperse influenza viruses into the air, called \u201caerosolized fomites.\u201d \u00a0So, perhaps SAR-CoV-2 could be spread this way (Asadi, Gaaloul ben Hnia<\/a>).<\/p>\n

It would be difficult to prove or disprove if people could get SARS-CoV-2 from fomites (Onakpoya et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Two people were infected, perhaps via fomites or air, on air flights closely studied by the Korean Centers for Disease Control (Bae, Shin, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 When scientists controlled the variables in experiments, infected hamsters transmitted to other hamsters by using bedding from infected hamsters, by breathing air nearby, and by living in the same cage (Mohandas et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Laboratory experiments found that SARS-CoV-2 remains viable for 28 days on smooth surfaces at 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), but they did not test longer than 28 days.\u00a0 They cultured the viruses in cells to test viability, a more thorough method than using PCR to find viral RNA (Marzoli et al.<\/a>; Riddell et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Another showed it lasting 3 hours to 7 days on different materials, but none tested them for longer than 7 days.\u00a0 One research team spread viable SARS-CoV-2 viruses on surfaces, took samples from the surfaces after different time lengths, found them viable. \u00a0After 72 hours, the viruses were still viable on plastic and stainless steel, implying they might last longer. On cardboard, no viruses lasted longer than 24 hours, and some were not viable in even less time. \u00a0On copper, no viruses lasted longer than 4 hours (Marzoli et al.<\/a>; National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases<\/a>; van Doremalen et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Another set of experiments found SARS-CoV-2 lasted up to 3 hours on tissue and printing papers, 2 days on wood and cloth, 4 days on banknotes and glass, and 7 days on surgical masks, plastic, and stainless steel (Chin AWH, Chu, et al.<\/a>; Marzoli et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 After drying these viruses and leaving them on surfaces for 48 hours, they could still infect Vero cells, showing that drying is insufficient to disinfect (Jang H, Ross<\/a>). SARS-CoV-2 spread on surfaces with protein decreased little, but decreased greatly on surfaces without protein.\u00a0 This shows that these viruses in mucous and saliva droplets and aerosols on surfaces can last long and contribute to transmission (Pastorino et al.<\/a>). \u00a0 From these experimental results, the US government developed an online tool for predicting how long SARS_CoV-2 could remain stable on surfaces in different temperatures, humidities, and ultraviolet lights (Department of Homeland Security \u201cEstimated Surface Decay\u201d<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In comparison, this new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is about as stable on surfaces as the 2003 SARS-CoV virus (van Doremalen et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 A review of similar betacoronaviruses (SARS and MERS) and less similar alphacoronaviruses (HCoV, a cause of the common cold) found they can last 9 days (Marzoli et al.<\/a>; Kampf et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 But the new virus is spreading to more people than SARS, probably because it creates more viruses inside infected people, and can transmit more from asymptomatic infected people to others (van Doremalen et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

SARS-CoV-2 hypothetically could contaminate soils, depending on biological and chemical characteristics. \u00a0But scientists have not yet tested this (Pietramellara et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

In hospitals with many COVID-19 patients, cleaning removed viruses from surfaces (Onakpoya et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 In the Nebraska hospital described above, staff used frequent cleaning, powered air purifying respirators, N95 filtering facepiece respirators, and other personal protective equipment, and no staff were infected (Santarpia, Rivera, et al.<\/a>). \u00a0In Wuhan hospitals, scientists and medical staff found SARS-CoV-2 RNA on surfaces, cleaned them and their hands, sampled the surfaces again, and found no SARS-CoV-2 RNA. \u00a0This shows that hand, face, and surface hygiene could probably reduce transmission (Ong et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Other experts believe that only a small portion of infected people got this virus from fomite surfaces (Ma et al.<\/a>). \u00a0Exposure risk from publicly contaminated surfaces is lower than from inhalation (Harvey A, Fuhrmeister, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Some suggest that people should put more effort into preventing other transmission modes, especially aerosols and droplets (Centers for Disease Control \u201cCDC Updates\u201d<\/a>; Goldman<\/a>; Ives, Mandavilli<\/a>; Lewis D \u201cCOVID-19 rarely spreads through surfaces\u201d<\/a>;\u00a0 The Lancet Respiratory Medicine<\/a>; Thompson<\/a>).<\/p>\n

For more information on how to disinfect surfaces, please see the menu heading “Prevention,” section on “Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces.”<\/p>\n

Food<\/h2>\n

[Publication date of latest article cited: August 28, 2023]<\/p>\n

No reports were found of SARS-CoV-2 transmitted by eating food\u00a0(Anelich et al.<\/a>; Chitrakar et al.<\/a>;\u00a0Desai, Aronoff \u201cFood Safety and COVID-19\u201d<\/a>; International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods<\/a>; Lancombe et al.<\/a>; Pressman et al.<\/a>; Souza et al.<\/a>; Whitworth<\/a>). \u00a0Viral RNA was found in people\u2019s intestinal systems, showing potential of oral-fecal transmission (Amirian<\/a>; Gu et al.<\/a>; Lamers et al.; Wong et al.<\/a>; Yeo et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 As described under the menu item \u201cBodily Fluids\u201d section on \u201cFeces,\u201d some evidence shows that it might occur, depending on whether stomach acids prevent SARS-CoV-2 can pass through stomach acid into the intestines.<\/p>\n

Cooking probably destroys SARS-CoV-2, but refrigeration and freezing do not (Anelich et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Heating it to 70 \u00b0C reduced it greatly (Chin AWH, Chu JTS, et al.<\/a>). \u00a0But refrigeration or freezing did not reduce it numbers or viability (Chin AWH, Chu JTS, et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Many farms (Teleaga et al.<\/a>), food services and restaurants improved food quality control measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 contamination of foods.\u00a0 So, they further reduced the already low probabilities of transmission via food ( Souza et al.<\/a>).<\/p>\n

If SARS-CoV-2 is on food surfaces, and one touched it, it could be transmitted as on any fomite surface, but the risk is probably low (Anelich et al.<\/a>; Food and Drug Administration<\/a>; Pressman et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 Some physicians asked the US Department of Agriculture to warn consumers about potential transmission via food (Physicians\u2019 Committee<\/a>).\u00a0 For example, inspectors found SARS-CoV-2 on one batch of chicken meat, but not on people who transported it (Wu, \u201cYou probably won\u2019t catch coronavirus from frozen food\u201d<\/a>). Others found it on cold chain food packaging surfaces (Chi Y, Wang Q, et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 In response, food companies increased uses of chemical and electronic technologies preventing contamination and microbial growth, monitoring spoilage, detecting SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, inactivating pathogens, and reducing human contact with foods and between workers (Chitrakar et al.<\/a>; Lancombe et al.<\/a>; Li P, Ke X et al. \u201cHigh Intensity Ultraviolet\u201d<\/a>; Mallakpour et al.<\/a>).\u00a0 But these systems are not well developed in low income countries, so SARS-CoV-2 could transmit via vegetables and aquatic foods (Gwenzi<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Household Animals [Publication date of latest article cited: October 13, 2023] Cats have moderate risk of COVID-19 transmission, dogs a low risk, and rodents have high to low risk, because of the degree of similarity of their angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the molecule on the outside of cells that SARS-CoV-2 attaches to (Damas et […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-82","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","post"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=82"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2936,"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/82\/revisions\/2936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vryheid.sdsu.edu\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=82"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}