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ABSTRACT World Health Organization has suggested that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted through person-to-person transmission and contact with contaminated surfaces. However, rapid spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggests other routes such as airborne transmission may be involved. A few research studies have been conducted to evaluate the potential transmission of this virus through air. Although some studies have found no evidence of airborne transmission, other more recent work is proving the presence of SARS-CoV-2 even in public places. Also, the past experiences and knowledge about the mechanisms of similar viruses such as SARS-CoV support this hypothesis. It seems that the best decision at the moment is to follow a conservative approach, and accept the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 is able to be transmitted through air. By this, control measures could be employed to prevent further COVID-19 infection.

Lack of human data on influenza virus aerosol shedding fuels debate over the importance of airborne transmission. We provide overwhelming evidence that humans generate infectious aerosols and quantitative data to improve mathematical models of transmission and public health interventions. We show that sneezing is rare and not important for—and that coughing is not required for—influenza virus aerosolization. Our findings, that upper and lower airway infection are independent and that fine-particle exhaled aerosols reflect infection in the lung, opened a pathway for a deeper understanding of the human biology of influenza infection and transmission. Our observation of an association between repeated vaccination and increased viral aerosol generation demonstrated the power of our method, but needs confirmation.

Originally, studies on exhaled droplets explored properties of airborne transmission of infectious diseases. More recently, the interest focuses on properties of exhaled droplets as biomarkers, enabled by the development of technical equipment and methods for chemical analysis. Because exhaled droplets contain nonvolatile substances, particles is the physical designation. This review aims to outline the development in the area of exhaled particles, particularly regarding biomarkers and the connection with small airways, i e airways with an internal diameter < 2 mm. Generation mechanisms, sites of origin, number concentrations of exhaled particles and the content of nonvolatile substances are studied. Exhaled particles range in diameter from 0.01 and 1000 μm depending on generation mechanism and site of origin. Airway reopening is one scientifically substantiated particle generation mechanism. During deep expirations, small airways close and the reopening process produces minute particles. When exhaled, these particles have a diameter of < 4 μm. A size discriminating sampling of particles < 4 μm and determination of the size distribution, allows exhaled particle mass to be estimated. The median mass is represented by particles in the size range of 0.7 to 1.0 μm. Half an hour of repeated deep expirations result in samples in the order of nanogram to microgram. The source of these samples is the respiratory tract ling fluid of small airways and consists of lipids and proteins, similarly to surfactant. Early clinical studies of e g chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, reported altered particle formation and particle composition. The physical properties and content of exhaled particles generated by the airway reopening mechanism offers an exciting noninvasive way to obtain samples from the respiratory tract lining fluid of small airways. The biomarker potential is only at the beginning to be explored.

Background: The transmission of respiratory viruses such as influenza and corona viruses from one person to another is still not fully understood. Methods: A literature search showed that there is ...

Abstract Background: Aerosol production during normal breathing is often attributed to turbulence in the respiratory tract. That mechanism is not consistent with a high degree of asymmetry between ...

Brian Dalby, PhD, Senior Director/Research Concierge at Scientist.com, discusses the biological makeup of Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Though much of the world is hearing about...

Restaurants remain hardest hit, permanent and temporary closures increase

Combining the aforementioned antimicrobial contact-killing properties of copper, the anti-adhesion properties of polymeric micelles and the release-kill abilities of chlorine dioxide (ClO2), Li et al. [47] developed a multifunctional coating viricidal for influenza virus H1N1.

**SARS-CoV {NOT SARS-CoV-2} showed inactivation with chlorine (10 mg/L for 10 min –free residue chlorine of 0.4 mg/L) and chlorine dioxide (40 mg/L for 30 min –free residue chlorine of 2.19 mg/L

Death rates are unusually high

One alarming symptom robs many patients of blood oxygen well before they notice. Doctors are racing to understand it.

First detected in China in late 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission has spread globally. Singapore implemented a multipronged surveillance and containment strategy that...

Vitamin D generates many extraskeletal effects due to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) which is present in most tissues throughout the body. The possible role of vitamin D in infections is implied from its impact on the innate and adaptive immune responses. ...

Globally, countries are seeking effective ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, and the disinfection of surfaces (including hands) is one of the most important measures that can be undertaken. However, the effectivity of disinfectants should be studied carefully before declaring sp

{Examines specific testing of sodium hypochlorite against COVID, as well as CD use against similar} Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused the global pandemic coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19). The outbreak of COVID-19 as Public Health Emergency of International Concern is declared by World Health Organization on January ...

***SARS-CoV is more susceptible to disinfectants than Escherichia coli and f2 phage. Free chlorine was found to inactivate SARS-CoV better than chlorine dioxide. Free residue chlorine over 0.5 mg/L for chlorine or 2.19 mg/L for chlorine dioxide in wastewater ensures complete inactivation of SARS-CoV while it does not inactivate completely E. coli and f2 phage.

***{Includes CD} Viral disinfection kinetics have been studied in depth, but the molecular-level inactivation mechanisms are not understood. Consequently, it is difficult to predict the disinfection behavior of nonculturable viruses, even when related, culturable viruses ...

1995. We evaluated antisepsis, disinfection, and sterilization procedures at 22 hospitals in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, which provide services for approximately 80% of the population. The percentage of hospitals that followed standard recommendations for diverse antisepsis procedures were as follows: s …

{Includes illustrations of important tested pathogens}

Officials have been considering whether to recommend face coverings be worn in public because of increasing evidence that infected people without symptoms can spread the infection, according to internal memos and new guidance provided to the White House by the CDC.

The metaphor doesn’t capture free speech’s most fundamental function: Freedom of speech gives you a fighting chance to know the world as it really is.

Innovation — from disease maps to artificial intelligence disease alerts, hospital robots, and supply-delivering drones — helps fight disease outbreaks.

FAS aims to debunk misinformation circulating the web on matters of public health and safety, as well as provide clear and sourced information for policymakers.