The coronavirus can be found in semen, raising questions of whether it can be sexually transmitted. A team of Chinese researchers took semen samples from 38 male COVID-19 patients, and viral particles were detected in 6 of them, or about 16 percent. Local experts say they were not sure whether the virus could be sexually transmitted but the possibility cannot be ruled out. Meanwhile, Chinese researchers also found at least 30 strains of the novel coronavirus. The most aggressive strain has been found in China's Zhejiang Province, Spain, Italy, and New York in the United States.


COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, with 3.75 million confirmed infections and over 26,000 deaths. A new Chinese study has reported that the genes of the novel coronavirus were found in the semen of six infected men. Local experts say the novel coronavirus is primarily spread through droplets and via contact, but it is also possible that it travels to other organs in the body via blood and therefore the possibility that COVID-19 is sexually transmitted cannot be ruled out.

Sexual organs have receptors, so when the virus gets close to the sexual organs of humans, it's possible that it is discharged along with semen.

Chinese researchers also found at least 30 strains of the novel coronavirus. The most aggressive strain has been found in China's Zhejiang Province, Spain, Italy, and New York in the United States. It can generate 270 times the viral load of the least potent type.

It can be that there was a comparatively more aggressive strain of the virus that spread to these areas, resulting in a higher number of patients in these places and more severe outbreaks. It's also possible that viral strains in the beginning weren't so different. As they spread extensively, the more successful strains emerged and remained inside these communities.

Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan Chairperson Huang Li-min added that it was inevitable that the novel coronavirus would mutate, as over three million people around the world have already been infected. The pandemic is still spreading, so the public is reminded to diligently wash hands, wear masks, and maintain social distancing to reduce the risk of infection as a vaccine is not yet available.



武漢肺炎在全球持續蔓延，確診人數達375萬多人，超過26萬人死亡，中國最新研究發現，在6名男性確診病人的精液裡，發現新型冠狀病毒的基因，對此國內專家表示，新冠病毒主要是透過飛沫及接觸傳播，但病毒也可能透過血液傳到全身器官，不排除武漢肺炎、也可能透過性行為傳播。

台灣感染症醫學會理事長 黃立民表示：「性器官那個地方，其實有受體，所以病毒到我們人類的性器官附近，是有可能的，它還是有可能，從精液製造出病毒排出來。」

此外，中國研究人員還發現，新冠病毒已經突變至少30種病毒株，最致命的突變種類在中國浙江省、西班牙、義大利及美國紐約，而且最溫和、和最致命的病毒株，兩者致病性、相差270倍。

台灣感染症醫學會理事長 黃立民表示：「有可能是有一隻比較強的病毒株，傳到這些地區，使得這些地區的病人比較多，疾病比較嚴重。那也有可能是，剛開始進去的病毒株，相差不是那麼大，可是因為它傳得範圍比較廣，它就選擇出一些，比較成功的病毒株出來，然後它留在這個社區裡面。」

黃立民強調，新冠病毒的突變是必然的，因為全球已有300多萬人遭感染，而且還在持續擴大中，因此提醒民眾，在疫苗上市前，一定要勤洗手、戴口罩、保持社交距離，個人把感染管控做好，才能降低傳播風險。