Doctors have issued a warning that the deadly coronavirus can be spread through farting.
Tests have shown that the virus was present in the faeces of more than half of COVID-19 patients and medical personnel stated that more research needs to be done to rule out the possibility of the disease being passed on via bodily gases.
A doctor who raised the issue on social media highlighted the work of Australian doctor Andy Tagg, saying that this was “an enjoyable thread about whether farting could cause coronavirus.”
In tests carried out earlier this year, Tagg found out that 55% of patients with COVID-19 had it present on their poo.
He stated:
“Well, SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in faeces and has been detected in an asymptomatic individual up to 17 days post-exposure.”
Tagg added that previous tests show that farting has the power to spray talcum powder over long distances. He warned that if the infected person wasn’t wearing pants, and they released a large amount of gas, then someone else (if they sniffed the gas) could be at risk.
He enjoined members of the public to wear appropriate PPE at all times and stay safe.
