Can Mosquitoes Carry the Coronavirus? Here's What Experts Say

Mosquito season is upon us, and considering that these bloodsuckers are known to transmit diseases, people are concerned: Do mosquitoes carry the coronavirus? And if so, can they transmit it to humans and infect a person with COVID-19?

Short answer: it's unlikely. Official guidance from the World Health Organizations (WHO) says there’s no information or evidence to suggest that the new coronavirus could be transmitted through mosquito bites. 

For starters, the coronavirus is a respiratory virus, and the main mode of transmission are viral droplets released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. For a mosquito to become infected with a virus, it must be present in the blood the mosquito feeds on.

“SARS-CoV2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that is almost exclusively contained within the lungs and respiratory tract of infected people, and rarely gets into the blood,” a postdoctoral researcher in the department of microbiology, immunology, and pathology at Colorado State University, tells Health.

Plus, for a virus to pass to a person through a mosquito or other kind of insect bite—such as a tick bite—the virus must be able to replicate inside the mosquito or tick. Neither the new coronavirus nor any other type of coronavirus has been shown to do that. 

“It’s quite a complex process,” former US Navy entomologist Joseph M. Conlon, who has extensive worldwide experience in mosquito control and is technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA), tells Health. “First of all, the mosquito would have to pick up the requisite amount of virus during its bite. The virus must then not only survive the digestive process, but replicate within the mosquito and pass through the gut wall to the coelom (main body cavity) of the mosquito. From there it must make its way to the salivary glands and be expressed by the mosquito as part of its salivary secretions.”

Furthermore, mosquitoes are very genetically different from humans. “This makes it challenging for viruses to have the ability to infect both of us,” says Gallichotte. “We have different receptors on the surface of cells and different replication machinery inside our cells.”

Relatively few human viruses have the ability to infect both humans and mosquitoes. “The vast majority of human viruses (such as influenza, HIV, and herpes) have been infecting humans for a very, very long time, and even though many of these end up in our blood, they are still unable to infect mosquitoes,” says Gallichotte. “Conversely, there are many mosquito viruses that are unable to infect humans, or any mammals. There are no known coronaviruses that can infect mosquitoes.”

Viruses that can be spread to humans by mosquitoes include West Nile virus, the virus that causes  dengue fever, and chikungunya virus, which all circulate in the blood of infected people. “West Nile virus is able to infect a mosquito to the point where the virus load is abundant in the salivary glands,” Melissa Doyle, scientific program manager at the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD), tells Health. “When the mosquito bites a person, the virus is able to travel from the salivary glands into the human body.”

So it’s pretty clear that COVID-19 is the last thing you should be worrying about if a mosquito has been feasting on your leg. Keep swatting them away, though. “Due to the heavy focus on COVID-19, many people may forget that disease threats may already be buzzing right outside their window.” SGVMVCD Public Information Officer Levy Sun tells Health. 

Conlon points out that mosquitoes can factor into the severity of COVID-19, meaning it’s crucial to maintain robust measures to reduce their numbers. “Studies have shown that factors contributing to potentially serious or fatal outcomes attendant to COVID-19 infection involve underlying medical issues, such as neurologic conditions that weaken the ability to cough or an already stressed immune system due to concurrent infection by mosquito-borne viruses,” he says. 

Mosquitoes or no mosquitoes, it’s still crucial to keep following healthy coronavirus protocol to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Clean your hands frequently, practice social distancing, stay home if you’re sick, and avoid close contact with anyone who is coughing and sneezing.   
The information in this story is accurate as of press time. However, as the situation surrounding COVID-19 continues to evolve, it's possible that some data have changed since publication. While Health is trying to keep our stories as up-to-date as possible, we also encourage readers to stay informed on news and recommendations for their own communities by using the CDC, WHO, and their local public health department as resources.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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How Long Does COVID-19 Survive on Surfaces?

COVID-19 has single-handedly turned most of us into germaphobes. Both on a personal and country-level, cleaning and disinfection have skyrocketed during the past few weeks. We are wearing masks to protect us from the droplets of the Coronavirus in the air, we keep washing our hands and wear gloves to avoid contamination from the objects we touch, and we are constantly cleaning the surfaces in our homes. Whole teams of professionals wearing protective suits and masks are sent to spray down areas affected by the virus, and the disinfection of public transportation and other community spaces has been amped up worldwide.
In part, this is because other than social distancing, cleaning and personal hygiene are the only weapons we can use to fight the Coronavirus, but it’s also because, until recently, we had no idea how long the dangerous virus could survive on different surfaces. The first studies testing how long Sars-CoV-2 can remain active in the air and on surfaces have started emerging, and they teach us that the incessant measures we have been taking were not in vain.

How Long Does the Coronavirus Survive on Surfaces?
How Long COVID-19 Survives on Surfaces group in protective clothing disinfecting area

As you likely know, the novel Coronavirus is not unlike other respiratory viruses, such as the flu, and it spreads through microscopic droplets from the infected person when they cough or sneeze, with just one cough being capable of producing thousands of such droplets. Some sources also suggest that the virus can spread through fecal matter.

If not prevented, these infected bodily fluids may ultimately travel to another host for the virus in a variety of ways. While the smallest particles of the virus can remain in the air, most settle on other people, their clothes and surrounding surfaces. And while it isn’t clear how likely a person becomes infected from the air and surfaces they touch, major health organizations like the CDC and the WHO do urge us to maintain thorough hygiene and cleaning habits during this time.

Until recently, we didn’t know how much time Sars-CoV-2 can remain active on various surfaces, and we had to suppose that it is like other coronaviruses like SARS or MERS in that respect. Fortunately, scientists are learning more about the novel Coronavirus every day, and research from the US National Institute of Health shows exactly how long the virus is capable of surviving outside of the human body.

The study suggests that Sars-CoV-2 remains active on different surfaces for the following times:

    Microscopic particles can survive for up to 3 hours in the air. This is why it is not advised to use a feather duster during cleaning or shake up any clothes and textiles, as the virus may be picked back up in the air and inhaled. Clean your home with a damp cloth instead.

    The virus only survives for 24 hours on cardboard, so there's little to no risk of being exposed to the virus through your mail or through grocery shopping.

    It can take 2-3 days for the virus to dissolve on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces. With that in mind, make sure to clean the most used surfaces in your home as much as you can and wash your hands after being exposed to plastic and metal objects in public spaces.

    Copper surfaces kill the virus in just 4 hours, as will wood, so objects made of these materials are safer than plastic and other metals.

    It remains unclear how long the virus survives on porous surfaces like clothing and textiles, but it has been suggested that the virus may be absorbed by the fibers and die more quickly than on hard surfaces.

The bottom line is, the virus can remain active on things like ATM machines and elevator buttons, door handles, phones, keys, countertops and laminated table-tops for 1 to 3 days, depending on the material, so cleaning and avoiding widely-used objects like the ones we mentioned before in public spaces is key. It is also important to learn how to clean specific objects and utilize this new information we've just learned.

Which Measure Can and Cannot Kill the Coronavirus?
How Long COVID-19 Survives on Surfaces wiping down door handle

Luckily, the molecular structure of viruses like the Coronavirus are very fragile, and their lipid coating can be easily dissolved through the use of chemicals. The chemicals that are known to annihilate the virus are:

    Alcohol in the concentration of at least 62-71%, including Listerine or other mouthwash (it's around 65% alcohol). You can use alcohol to both disinfect surfaces, such as your smartphone, and to clean your hands via a hand sanitizer.

    0.5% hydrogen peroxide can be used to clean hard surfaces, but it may stain.

    Bleach containing 0.1% sodium hypochlorite is effective at disinfecting clothing and your home.

    Soap is the best way to remove the virus from your skin, especially if you wash your hands for 20 seconds or more and in hot water. You need it to become foam, which is the most efficient way to take off the virus, that is why you need at least 20 seconds - to turn it to lather.

The cleaners that are ineffective at destroying the novel Coronavirus are: vinegar and alcoholic beverages like spirits or vodka (these are typically no more than 40% alcohol), as none of these are capable of permeating and dissolving the fat coating of the virus. The same goes to hand sanitizers with no or less alcohol than 65%. Antibiotics and antibacterial products will not be useful. They only kill bacteria, not viruses.

Like all viruses, Sars-CoV-2 is also very sensitive to temperature, light, and humidity, and it is typically destroyed in dry and hot climates (above 20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit). 
Exposure to UV light or sunlight also kills the virus, but exposure to UV light is dangerous for the skin, so this method should be reserved for the disinfection of objects.

With all that information in mind, it remains crucial that you should continue cleaning and disinfecting your home thoroughly through the different methods we just named. It's also important to wash your hands and avoid touching your face with dirty hands. Interestingly, doctors from the John Hopkins Hospital also point out that trimming your nails short and moisturizing your hands is important, too. The most dirt hides under our fingernails, as well as most of the virus. With very short fingernails, you'll have a lot fewer germs underneath your fingernails, and a protective coating of the moisturizer will not allow for the virus to penetrate your skin.

Stay safe!

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
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clearest statement regarding Coronavirus from a doctor

Marc Serota (one of our former allergy fellows at Children's Mercy) posted this on Facebook. I think it is the clearest statement regarding Coronavirus I have seen per one of our Current Asthma/allergy Doctors:

From an MD immunologist:

I don't post a lot on Facebook but I would like to give my perspective and context on the coronavirus outbreak. I hope I can be a more reputable source of perspective as a physician who specializes and is board certified in immunology (as well as pediatrics, allergy and dermatology).

1. Coronaviruses are a family of viruses. "coronavirus" is not unique to this particular strain. Everyone reading this has likely had another different coronavirus infection. This particular strain has been named COVID-19.

2. Every upper respiratory virus has the potential to be lethal. Patients unfortunately die from many upper respiratory viral infections every year - most prominently the influenza virus. 30,000 people died from the influenza virus in 2019. The media didn't report each one. They have reported all 11 coronavirus deaths. Not telling us about the people lost but rather keeping a death "toll".

Let me repeat that: 

-Coronavirus: 11 deaths (US in 2020), 3300 deaths (China in 2020).  

-Influenza: 30,000 deaths (US in 2019). 

*Influenza pandemic of 1918: 675,000! (US), 20-50 MILLION!! (worldwide) <---these annual="" been="" favor="" flu="" font="" have="" i="" in="" of="" people="" receiving="" their="" think="" vaccine.="" would="">

This is not meant to minimize any of these deaths but rather to give context and put some facts to the hysteria.

3. If you're healthy, there is no need to walk around wearing a mask. In addition to looking silly and most of the time wearing/taking them off wrong - which would actually make you more prone to acquiring an infection, they don't prevent you from getting sick. If you're actually sick stay away from people and then, sure, wear a mask so you aren't spreading respiratory droplets every time you cough/sneeze. In medicine we don't wear the masks you're buying and we wear other protective equipment - not just a silly looking mask you found on Amazon. When you see doctor's walking around the world wearing a mask then you should too. Until then, stop.

4. The symptoms are that of the flu. As doctors we don't test or know about most people with mild or moderate flu symptoms. That means most people will probably get it and just think they had the flu. That means you're only going to hear about the cases that get serious - not all the minor ones which will be the vast majority of cases.

5. When it is said that people who are older or have other medical conditions are most likely to die - that is equally true for EVERY upper respiratory virus. There is nothing unique about that to this particular virus. It does mean that the only cases we tend to know about are the severe ones. Once a case is severe it then makes sense to test the patient to find out what virus in particular they have. That means you can easily overestimate how severe or lethal the virus is because the only cases you end up knowing about are the serious ones.

In summary 30,000 people died from the flu last year. Another 30,000 died in car accidents.  

I remember: H1N1 (2009), MERS (2012), Ebola (2014), Coronavirus (2020).  

Take it from me: The poor resident who stood at the door of the ER to triage people in 2009's swine flu (H1N1) hysteria. The over reaction is exponentially worse than the actual problem and in 2020 the over reactions I'm seeing are remarkable. In cold and flu season you'll probably get sick once or twice for about a week each. You might even get this particular coronavirus and most of you won't even know it. I've seen people raiding supermarkets, major meetings and sporting events getting cancelled and fear/racism towards Asian people. These reactions are totally unnecessary and panic based. Just do what you've always done during cold/flu season. Stay away from other people when you're sick, wash your hands and keep them away from your face, and only go to the ER if you feel your symptoms are more severe than a bad cold/flu (shortness of breath, high fever, etc.). And also realize you can't live on earth and not get viral illnesses from time to time. It's a part of nature.

Please don't ask for antibiotics (those treat bacteria - not viruses). That's like asking for a fire extinguisher when you're drowning. It can be a life saving device - but the wrong one for the problem at hand. Some doctor's don't want to fight about it when patients insist on antibiotics so they just prescribe them - but it doesn't mean its actually helping you and in some cases they can be harmful (resistance, infections, allergic reactions just to name a few). If you're one who asks for antibiotics every time you're sick, again, take it from me: ask for a flu shot each year and a doctor's note to stay home from work when you're sick instead. You will be much better off.

The government is very proud that testing will be available to every American. Remember, we don't test for any respiratory virus other than the influenza virus routinely. The reason is thats the only virus that has a treatment (pill) you can take to shorten the duration of severity of the illness. I suspect if we start testing everyone with cold symptoms for coronavirus we're going to find lots of it. It's not going to change the recommendations to stay home and rest. And its not going to predict the small percentage of people who may develop more severe symptoms. Essentially whether someone has coronavirus 19 or some other cold/flu virus isn't going to matter to your doctor. What it will do is slam urgent cares, ER's and hospitals with every patient who has a cold so they can be tested. It is much more sensible to reserve testing for patients requiring hospitalization or more advanced treatments. Even that wouldn't change their management but would be more to confirm the diagnosis and to not waste time looking for other causes of the patients symptoms.

In conclusion, yes there is a novel virus that our immune systems haven't seen yet so to get immune to it you will have to get infected - at least until a vaccine is developed to bypass the getting sick part and just jumping straight to immune. Most people's immune systems will do that effectively and be fine. A small percentage of unfortunate patients (primarily elderly, immune compromised etc.) will not be able to do that effectively and will need more advanced care. This is true of the cold/flu viruses we deal with every year. Follow normal cold/flu precautions and seek medical care if you feel your symptoms are severe. No need to get hysterical.

These outbreaks can be instructive for overall knowledge of public health. In particular showing your immune system the uniform of a potential invader (virus) so that if it ever sees a soldier wearing that uniform it will immediately attack and neutralize it without you ever getting sick. That is a wonderful thing and probably the single biggest achievement in medicine throughout human history. That is what vaccines are. The benefit to risk ratio of them are off the charts in favor of vaccines. If viruses like coronavirus scare you, then stay up to date on your vaccines and your immune system will be running the latest software.

If you still think you should be scared consider this: Doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff are going to hospitals every day. Crowded buildings with tons of sick people. They aren't walking around the halls of the hospitals wearing masks and they haven't stopped going to work. And they are all rolling their eyes at everyone else right now.

Marc Serota, MD

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement