March 23, 2020, 05:50 PM
People who experience a sudden loss of smell and taste could potentially be "hidden carriers" of Covid-19, a group of British medical experts have revealed.
Asymptomatic but no sense of smell and taste
Ear, nose and throat doctors from the UK cited reports from around the world that these could allegedly be silent symptoms of the virus behind the global pandemic.
In a statement online, ENT UK, a group representing ear, nose and throat doctors, said that there was "good evidence" from cases in South Korea, Italy and China that Covid-19 caused anosmia, or the loss of the sense of smell.
"In Germany it is reported that more than 2 in 3 confirmed cases have anosmia. In South Korea, where testing has been more widespread, 30% of patients testing positive have had anosmia as their major presenting symptom in otherwise mild cases."
They added that these patients were asymptomatic aside from the sudden onset of anosmia—they did not present more commonly recognised symptoms like coughing and fever, reported Business Insider.
Such people could thus be "hidden carriers", or vectors, that help facilitate the spread of Covid-19, because, without symptoms, they do not even meet the criteria for testing or self-isolation.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology echoed similar sentiments, saying in a notice on its website that there was mounting anecdotal evidence supporting these symptoms.
Confirmed cases experiencing such symptoms
In its statement, ENT UK urged healthcare workers to don personal protective equipment (PPE) when treating patients who have lost their sense of smell.
ENT surgeons and doctors should also wear PPE, even if they are not frontline workers.
Professor Claire Hopkins, president of the British Rhinological Society and a member of ENT UK, said that numerous ENT specialists from Wuhan had been infected and "dying in large numbers", reported The New York Times.
Some people have even confessed on social media that they had experienced such symptoms.
NBA player Rudy Gobert who tested positive on Mar. 12 admitted in a tweet on Mar. 23 that he had lost his sense of smell and taste four days before.
Just to give you guys an update, loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms, haven’t been able to smell anything for the last 4 days. Anyone experiencing the same thing?
— Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) March 22, 2020
Some others appear to be experiencing the same thing too.
Speaking as a recovering self-isolating doctor who has probable Covid (though the #NHS refuses to test me or contact trace) I have completely loss my sense of smell and taste (no nasal congestion) .. has anyone else experienced this? #covid19UK #coronavirus
— Jimmy Kyaw Tun (@JimmyKyawTun) March 18, 2020
At home with confirmed COVID and my main symptoms are complete anosmia (loss of sense of smell) and ageusia (loss of sense of taste). No fever or cough! Symptoms are often mild and you may be spreading it to the vulnerable without knowing it! Important to stay at home if you can!
— Tamara Elliott (@dr_tam_elliott) March 20, 2020
I have been sick since March 11. Finally got tested for COVID-19 yesterday. The weirdest symptom of all has been the complete loss of sense of taste and smell. I've never ever experienced this before! Results in 3 days. WOW. https://t.co/8t7r2abwZF
— Christina Eloise⁷ (@ceo4875) March 21, 2020
Top photo from Reuters
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