Corona virus is becoming more worrying than ever, besides being highly contagious and transmissible, corona virus is also unpredictable especially with the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus, its ability to evade vaccine protection and the possibility of causing long-term risks are some of the factors that Makes it so disturbing.
According to a report by the Times of India, the Corona virus mutates and develops over time, which leads to the emergence of new variants and strains, and during close contact with an infected person increases your chances of infection, according to a recent study, the Corona virus may also spread through aerosols. and this is It means that the virus can live in the aerosol droplets that we give off while talking, coughing or sneezing and this in turn infects people who come into contact with us and breathe in the same volatile particles.
What does airborne disease mean?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air transmission is the spread of an infectious agent caused by the spread of an aerosol that remains infectious when suspended in the air over long distances and over a longer period of time..
Can corona disease be spread through the air?
Although many studies have indicated that the Corona virus may spread through the air, there is no conclusive evidence to prove this.
Given that the coronavirus is constantly changing and mutating into many other variables, including the alpha and delta variant, scientists believe that the dynamics may have changed and that the virus may have become more efficient at transmitting disease through aerosols..
According to a new study led by a team of researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, people infected with the alpha variant, which was first discovered in the UK, expelled 43 to 100 times more viruses into the air than people infected with the original coronavirus strain..
Moreover, the researchers also found that loose-fitting cloth and surgical masks reduced the amount of viral particles an infected person released or exhaled into the air by half..
According to Dr. Don Melton, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, “Our latest study provides further evidence for the importance of air travel.“.
“We know that the delta variant circulating now is more contagious than the alpha variant, and our research indicates that variants are constantly improving in air travel, so we must provide better ventilation and wear tight-fitting masks, in addition to vaccination, to help stop the spread of the virus,” he said. “.
The recent study found that people infected with the alpha variant may release a larger portion of the virus (18 times more) into the air.
Jianyu Lai, one of the study’s lead authors, says, “We already knew that virus in saliva and nasal swabs increased in alpha variant infection and viruses may be transmitted from the nose and mouth by large droplet aerosols near an infected person. Our study confirms that virus in exhaled increases further.“.
How do you keep yourself safe?
The most effective way to protect yourself from harmful aerosol droplets is to avoid crowded places and maintain a social distance It is important to avoid rooms with less or no ventilation, and to wear well-appointed masks at all times.