The World Health Organization has acknowledged there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus can be spread by tiny particles suspended in the air.
The airborne transmission could not be ruled out in crowded, closed or poorly ventilated settings, an official said.
If the evidence is confirmed, it may affect guidelines for indoor spaces.
An open letter from more than 200 scientists had accused the WHO of underestimating the possibility of airborne transmission.
The WHO has so far said that the virus is transmitted through droplets when people cough or sneeze.
July 8, BBC
Transmission through aerosols is more than likely to occur and it is not understandable why WHO does not adapt the recommendations acccordingly.
See also the thread: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_you_assess_WHOs_role_in_the_COVID-19_crisis
Think so dear Dr. Christian G Meyer and WHO should be more clear and bold in its decisions and recommendations.
Yes, I agree. The possibility does exists. However, some of the key scientific questions that still need to be resolved include: (i) How long does airborne SARS-CoV-2 remain infectious? (ii) What could be the determinants of SARS-CoV-2 production from an individual? (iii) What quantum of SARS-CoV-2 could be released during breathing, talking, coughing, and sneezing by individuals with active infection? Based on these details, which control strategies could be most effective at preventing airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission? In my opinion, these are couple of issues that needs careful consideration just beyond the recommendations.
Thanks for nice sharing dear Dr. Pradyumna Kumar Mishra and WHO should be more clear in its decision-making and recommendations.
for some reason, I am more and more inclined to the idea that WHO is more of a political project, //
I support the idea of the spread of the virus through small particles that formed during breathing /
I believe that WHO should also amend its recommendations on air pollution (PM2.5) and introduce an additional paragraph on submicron particles (PM1) //
Now there is no protocol concerning the accumulation fraction (PM1) in the air, although now we see how much such a fraction strongly affects the incidence of pneumonia/
Shears, R. K., Jacques, L. C., Naylor, G., Miyashita, L., Khandaker, S., Lebre, F., … Kadioglu, A. (2020). Exposure to diesel exhaust particles increases susceptibility to invasive pneumococcal disease. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.039
Same thought as Alex N Ishmatov, WHO should be explicit on the mode of transmission of the virus and stop playing politics with lives.
Thanks for kind sharing and WHO is confused in its decision-making.
Aerosol transmission has been important and is playing a greater role in transmission as we are now controling transmission by physical contact and by droplets, due to hygienic measures and social distancing. I see no other way to account for how fast the epidemic has been moving. When a crowded party takes place indoors and 2 weeks later we count 40 participants infected, what better explanation than aerosol? the infectious individual in the party certainly did not go around kissing or huging 40 participants right?
Actually, some teams have been trying to measure variability in the R- effective and found that it is compatible with most infectious individuals infecting 0 or 1, whereas a small percentage of infectious individuals infect 10, 15 or 20 individuals. This is totally compatible with phenomena of supertransmission due to aerosol.
I regret WHO has not been faster in acknowledging the role of aerosol transmission. Although control of this sort of transmission may seem complicated or expansive (which appear to have hampered WHO's position), in some instances opening windows or somehow ventilating confined spaces would make a lot of difference.
Think so sir Manuel C Gomes and WHO should be more clear and bold in its decisions and recommendations.
…
Well, the novel coronavirus is an emerging virus that science and scientists have very limited knowledge on its epidemiology, spread, pathogenicity, and even clinical manifestations. Till date, the CDC and other health regulating bodies keep updating and changing the guidelines regarding the novel coronavirus prevention and control.
Initially, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was not considered in the pathogenicity of coronavirus but with recent work and findings, the GIT involvement has been clearly established with also gastrointestinal symptoms and dysbiosis have been reported in most patients.
Since coronavirus is mainly a respiratory tract pathogen, we cannot rule out the possibility of airborne transmission. It is possible! Also, with the evidence from the prolonged faecal shedding of the virus from infected individuals, faeco-oral transmission cannot be ruled out also.
At this stage everything is possible. But with the current ongoing research, details about coronavirus epidemiology, ecology, spread, pathogenesis etc would soon be elucidated.
Evelyn Okpara : WHO may not necessarily be playing politics ok. Well, the novel coronavirus is an emerging virus that science and scientists have very limited knowledge on its epidemiology, spread, pathogenicity, and even clinical manifestations. Till date, the CDC and other health regulating bodies keep updating and changing the guidelines regarding the novel coronavirus prevention and control. Initially, the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement was not considered in the pathogenicity of coronavirus but with recent work and findings, the GIT involvement has been clearly established with also gastrointestinal symptoms and dysbiosis have been reported in most patients. Since coronavirus is mainly a respiratory tract pathogen, we cannot rule out the possibility of airborne transmission. It is possible! Also, with the evidence from the prolonged faecal shedding of the virus from infected individuals, faeco-oral transmission cannot be ruled out also. At this stage everything is possible. But with the current ongoing research, details about coronavirus epidemiology, ecology, spread, pathogenesis etc would soon be elucidated.
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