Viewpoint: SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19 in humans) is not known to infect aquatic food animals nor contaminate their products

Bondad-Reantaso Melba G., . and Tang-Nelson Kathy, . and Bin Hao, . and Karunasagar Iddya, . and Alessandro Lovatelli, . and Salman Mo, . and Sunarto Agus, . and Surachetpong Win, . and Alday-Sanz Victoria, . and Hanson Larry, . and Jie Huang, . and Sumption Keith, . and Barange Manuel, . and Mackinnon Brett, . and Brun Edgar, . and Fejzic Nihad, . and Subasinghe Rohana, . and Mohamed Shariff, . and Mathiesen �rni M., . Viewpoint: SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of COVID-19 in humans) is not known to infect aquatic food animals nor contaminate their products. pp. 74-78. ISSN 0116-6514

This paper was prepared in response to the need for clear communication regarding the risk of transmission of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 in humans and the general societal concern of potential contamination of aquatic animals used as food or their products with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family Coronaviridae and genus Betacoronavirus. Betacoronaviruses are only reported to infect mammals. Currently there is no evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect aquatic food animals (e.g. finfish crustaceans molluscs amphibians) and therefore these animals do not play an epidemiological role in spreading COVID-19 to humans. Aquatic food animals and their products like any other surface may potentially become contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 especially when handled by people who are infected with the virus. Nevertheless with proper food handling and sanitation the likelihood of contamination of aquatic animals or their products with SARS-CoV-2 should be negligible. The COVID-19 pandemic may indirectly affect livelihoods food security and nutrition for populations that rely on aquatic animals as a source of food or income. However COVID-19 outbreaks may also lead to an increase in local community consumption and/or utilisation of aquatic food animals or their products due to limited transportation and trade away from the fishing and harvesting communities or limited supplies of alternative sources of animal proteins.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.asianfisheriessociety.org/publication/d...

Abstract

This paper was prepared in response to the need for clear communication regarding the risk of transmission of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 in humans and the general societal concern of potential contamination of aquatic animals used as food or their products with the virus. SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family Coronaviridae and genus Betacoronavirus. Betacoronaviruses are only reported to infect mammals. Currently there is no evidence to suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can infect aquatic food animals (e.g. finfish crustaceans molluscs amphibians) and therefore these animals do not play an epidemiological role in spreading COVID-19 to humans. Aquatic food animals and their products like any other surface may potentially become contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 especially when handled by people who are infected with the virus. Nevertheless with proper food handling and sanitation the likelihood of contamination of aquatic animals or their products with SARS-CoV-2 should be negligible. The COVID-19 pandemic may indirectly affect livelihoods food security and nutrition for populations that rely on aquatic animals as a source of food or income. However COVID-19 outbreaks may also lead to an increase in local community consumption and/or utilisation of aquatic food animals or their products due to limited transportation and trade away from the fishing and harvesting communities or limited supplies of alternative sources of animal proteins.

[error in script]

Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Human diseases
AGROVOC Term:	Animal viruses
AGROVOC Term:	Viruses
AGROVOC Term:	Aquatic animals
AGROVOC Term:	Animal diseases
AGROVOC Term:	Respiratory diseases
AGROVOC Term:	Coronavirus
AGROVOC Term:	Coronaviridae
AGROVOC Term:	Pandemis
AGROVOC Term:	Fisheries
Depositing User:	Mr. AFANDI ABDUL MALEK
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 00:54
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/8966

Actions (login required)

View Item