Influenza can spread by just breathing

Influenza virus may spread more easily than previously thought. It is widely believed that the disease can be contracted by inhaling droplets excreted by people who cough or sneeze. However, according to a new study, simply being near a sick person is not enough, as the virus spreads also by just breathing.

– People often spread disease even when they are not coughing – said Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health Researchers, who ry wsp ln conjunction with researchers from San Jose State University, Missouri Western State University and the University of California at Berkeley, conducted research on the spread of the influenza virus. The results of their work were published in „Proceedings of the National Academy of Science”.

During the 2012-2013 flu season, Milton and his colleagues studied 142 students at the University of Maryland flu patients. They wanted to determine how b and when the sick emitted the virus. During 218 observation sessions lasting after p ł hours, from the student were downloaded pr bks of exhaled air on the first, second and third days after the onset of symptoms .

Analysis of pr bek provided very interesting information. When coughing or sneezing, viral particles were spread at a high rate, but the researchers noted that this did not increase the amount of viral RNA in the air. They also noted that almost half of the aerosol (small droplets, which re remain suspended in the air for a long time) containing the virus was emitted during the tract m rallying or even just breathing. The researchers also found that men excreted larger amounts of the virus when coughing, but women coughed more often. People with a higher body mass index also tended to excrete more virus particles.

– People sick with the flu produce infectious aerosols even when they are not coughing, and especially in the first days of illness. So when someone gets the flu, they should stay home and not infect others in the workplace or at school – said Dr. Milotn.

This study suggests that frequent hand washing and avoiding coughing or sneezing do not provide complete protection against infecting others with influenza. Staying at home and avoiding public places has a much greater impact on the spread of the flu virus.

Source background: Time , Medical Xpress , fot. CC BY-SA 4.0/ Wikimedia Commons/ DaveDeploige