There are many questions surrounding this new and deadly virus that’s taking the world by storm. One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘how is Covid 19 spread?’ Many diseases, such as the Bubonic Plague, was transmitted by fleas that were on rats – but is Covid 19 transmitted by pests?
Vector pests such as ticks and mosquitoes are known to pay significant roles in transmitting critical diseases and worldwide mosquitoes are the leading vectors in spreading malaria into the human race. Ticks are responsible for the transmission of the most common vector-borne infection in the United States, Lyme disease, as well as many other infections such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
There are numerous coronaviruses on earth, they were first identified in the 1960’s and are well-known causes of the common cold. They are commonly transmitted through contact with bodily fluid from an infected person by acts like sneezing or coughing. However, Covid 19 are zoonotic coronaviruses – viruses that jumped the species barrier from their normal hosts to human hosts. This can happen through direct contact with an infected animal as well as indirect contact through consuming the infected animals.
