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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Does a type of coronavirus attacking digestive systems in pigs have the potential to spread to humans?

By Sabrina Scoggin
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YES

A gastrointestinal virus that infected pigs in China in 2016 has “inherent potential” to spread between animal and human hosts, based on laboratory testing reported by University of North Carolina researchers. Tests showed the virus, known as SADS-CoV, or swine acute diarrhea syndrome coronavirus, can replicate in human lung, intestinal and respiratory tract cells. In pigs it causes severe diarrhea and vomiting.

The virus is from the same family as the virus that caused SARS, which emerged from China in 2002, and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The initial outbreak was slowed in 2017 by separating sick sows and piglets from the rest of the herd. Investigators confirmed its connection to bats.

Researchers have observed that SADS-CoV has the broadest range of cell tropism, or ability to infect cells, out of all coronaviruses, implying a high risk of cross-species transmission.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Science Daily: Swine coronavirus replicates in human cells
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: Swine coronavirus and potential susceptibility to human infection
Virologica Sinica: Cross-species infection risk of SADS-CoV
National Institutes of Health: New coronavirus emerges from bats in China, devastates young swine
Centers for Disease Control: Coronavirus types
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.