Fears Covid has morphed into stomach bug as cases surge

22 December 2023 , 10:51

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The recent strain of Covid has prompted suspicions from scientists it could now be giving us tummy bugs (Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

Covid could now be resulting in tummy bugs with soaring cases presenting in wastewater supplies, scientists fear.

Although a respiratory virus which is most commonly associated with coughing and a fever, some virologists now believe it has mutated to a point where it can also hit our guts. Scientists have reported seeing "huge spikes" in Covid traces discovered at wastewater plants across Europe which may be coming from faecal matter from infected patients.

The findings are leading some to conclude the more recent JN.1 strain is "more gut-focused", although there has yet to be any definite findings which determine this. Virologist Marc Johnson, a professor in microbiology, told MailOnline: "There were some huge spikes in wastewater in Europe, and a lot of us were pondering what the possible explanations could be - whether it's just a lot of cases or whether there's some other explanation."

A lot of other types of coronavirus - the virus group Covid belongs to - have been known to infect the gut, and Prof Johnson said, if true, it "wouldn't be that surprising". At present, the NHS lists diarrhoea and vomiting as potential symptoms of the virus.

Meanwhile JN.1 is currently the fastest growing variant with a surge in reports of cases across the UK in the run-up to Christmas. The World Health Organisation has already classed it as a variant of interest, while the UKHSA claims it now accounts for 7% of lab result positive tests.

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Australian virologist Stuart Turville meanwhile has claimed the emerging strain is actually preferring to attack the cells in our gut. Prof Johnson added: "Dr Turville has an observation that the newer lineages prefer a slightly different version of the receptor that's more common in the GI tract, which is possibly supportive evidence. But a more likely explanation is that we're seeing compounding waves right now."

Traces of virus all end up in wastewater as they leave our bodies through our poo, making it into waste plants. However, reports of the virus being detected have surged in plants in Austria, Switzerland and Germany in recent weeks.

Dr Johnson added: "We find evidence of people that have been infected for years and are shedding crazy amounts of virus that we can detect them in sewer sheds with over 100,000 people." As of yet, however, there have been no reported rises in hospital admissions which back up theories Covid is increasingly targeting our tummies.

Susie Beever