Can Flies Carry Disease?

Flies can carry a wide range of diseases, including E. coli, which is responsible for diarrhea, blood in the stool, and stomach cramps. The flies may also carry bacteria, which can lead to a variety of other diseases. These insects are most common in urban areas, but they can also be found in rural areas. A recent study found that the most common route for bacterial transmission is through the legs. This means that flies may also be a useful way to sample microbes in difficult to reach areas.

Some of the most common viruses that flies may carry are those that cause respiratory illness. Some of these viruses have been isolated from wild-caught flies, but they are rare. Studies conducted in laboratories have found that house flies can also carry disease, including the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes blue-ear pig disease in pigs. Other veterinary diseases that flies can carry include avian influenza virus and Newcastle disease virus.

Several diseases are spread through fecal contamination of water and food. House flies are the primary agent in the transmission of these diseases. Some of the most common of these diseases are Typhoid Fever, which affects millions of people around the world. Other diseases caused by house flies include cholera and Shigella, which causes dysentery.