US Researchers Detect Novel Coronavirus in Diarrhea... "Infection Possible in Bathrooms"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] An analysis has emerged suggesting that there may be hidden transmission routes related to the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), which is known to spread through droplets (飛沫), small water droplets emitted from the mouth. U.S. medical personnel announced that the virus was also detected in the 'diarrhea' of a novel coronavirus patient.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st (local time), Scott Linquist, an epidemiologist at the Washington State Department of Health, revealed that the novel coronavirus was detected in the stool of a 35-year-old male patient receiving treatment in the United States. Linquist said, "This discovery has increased our knowledge about the novel coronavirus," adding, "The novel coronavirus can exit the body not only through the respiratory tract but also through bowel movements."

Researchers estimate that the virus spreads through droplets expelled by infected individuals when coughing or sneezing, either directly or via contaminated hands, but the exact transmission route between people has not yet been identified. The novel coronavirus, like SARS, has similar protein receptors, making the lungs and colon major targets.

Some medical professionals believe that wearing a mask on the face alone may be limited in preventing virus infection. John Nicholas, a pathology professor at the University of Hong Kong, pointed out, "There is a possibility of virus transmission when using the commonly found (lidless) squat toilets in China and not washing hands properly."

Bloomberg reported that similar cases occurred during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. About 10-20% of SARS patients experienced diarrhea in addition to respiratory issues. During the cluster outbreak at the Amoy Gardens apartments in Hong Kong, where 42 people died, diarrhea was suspected to be one of the main transmission reasons. Researchers hypothesize that the virus mixed in the excrement of a super-spreader was dispersed into the air in droplet form through the flushing of toilet water, causing a 'toilet plume' phenomenon.