What Is Coxsackievirus?
4. Contagion
Coxsackieviruses spread in tiny droplets of mucus and saliva that are sprayed when an infected person coughs, talks, or sneezes. They also are carried in human feces. The virus is picked up by an uninfected person who either breathes in the droplets or touches fomites, which are infected surfaces, such as doorknobs and light switches. Touching the face brings the virus into contact with the mouth, nose, or eyes.
The incubation period between infection and symptoms is one to five days. People are most contagious during the first week of feeling ill; however, the virus can live asymptomatically in the respiratory system for three weeks and in the digestive system for eight weeks. A person is less contagious during this time but can still spread the disease. Most at risk of infection are young children and pregnant women, who can spread the virus to their newborn babies.
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