FACT CHECK: Can coronavirus spread through flies?
Social media is abuzz with remedies, cure and other information on the deadly coronavirus. However, not every piece of information should be believed, especially at a time when the country is dealing with a major health crisis amid a lockdown.
Recently, a Lancet study claimed that the coronavirus can find a viral carrier in houseflies and take gigantic proportions across the country. A two-minute video of the same was tweeted by Amitabh Bachchan, who explained that house flies that may have come in contact with the infected faeces can sit on the food particles and further spread the virus. In fact, the study conducted by the journal found that the virus stays active for far longer in the stool samples as compared to the respiratory samples of the infected persons. It also found that the virus may remain active in the stool samples even after the person has recovered from the virus. But how true is the fact?
The Health Ministry today clarified that coronavirus does not spread through house flies.
"This is an infectious case and does not spread through flies or mosquitoes. The cases are increasing, but there is a stable trend in the number of cases and it is due to social distancing and also contact tracing, " Health Ministry official Lav Agarwal said today.
