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Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols is sufficient to transmit covid-19 within minutes

Alsved, Malin LU orcid ; Nyström, Kristina ; Thuresson, Sara LU ; Nygren, David LU orcid ; Churqui, Marianela Patzi ; Hussein, Tareq ; Fraenkel, Carl-Johan LU ; Medstrand, Patrik LU orcid and Löndahl, Jakob LU orcid (2023) In Scientific Reports 13.
Abstract
Exhaled SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosols contributed significantly to the rapid and vast spread of covid-19. However, quantitative experimental data on the infectivity of such aerosols is missing. Here, we quantified emission rates of infectious viruses in exhaled aerosol from individuals within their first days after symptom onset from covid-19. Six aerosol samples from three individuals were culturable, of which five were successfully quantified using TCID50. The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively. Calculations with an indoor air transmission model showed that if an infected individual with this emission rate entered a room, a susceptible person would... (More)
Exhaled SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosols contributed significantly to the rapid and vast spread of covid-19. However, quantitative experimental data on the infectivity of such aerosols is missing. Here, we quantified emission rates of infectious viruses in exhaled aerosol from individuals within their first days after symptom onset from covid-19. Six aerosol samples from three individuals were culturable, of which five were successfully quantified using TCID50. The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively. Calculations with an indoor air transmission model showed that if an infected individual with this emission rate entered a room, a susceptible person would inhale an infectious dose within 6 to 37 min in a room with normal ventilation. Thus, our data show that exhaled aerosols from a single person can transmit covid-19 to others within minutes at normal indoor conditions. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Scientific Reports
volume
13
article number
21245
pages
9 pages
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:38040798
  • scopus:85178230617
ISSN
2045-2322
DOI
10.1038/s41598-023-47829-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5d888d47-194c-4d20-b20e-f9dac82272b1
date added to LUP
2023-12-04 08:58:15
date last changed
2024-04-04 22:34:02
@article{5d888d47-194c-4d20-b20e-f9dac82272b1,
  abstract     = {{Exhaled SARS-CoV-2-containing aerosols contributed significantly to the rapid and vast spread of covid-19. However, quantitative experimental data on the infectivity of such aerosols is missing. Here, we quantified emission rates of infectious viruses in exhaled aerosol from individuals within their first days after symptom onset from covid-19. Six aerosol samples from three individuals were culturable, of which five were successfully quantified using TCID50. The source strength of the three individuals was highest during singing, when they exhaled 4, 36, or 127 TCID50/s, respectively. Calculations with an indoor air transmission model showed that if an infected individual with this emission rate entered a room, a susceptible person would inhale an infectious dose within 6 to 37 min in a room with normal ventilation. Thus, our data show that exhaled aerosols from a single person can transmit covid-19 to others within minutes at normal indoor conditions.}},
  author       = {{Alsved, Malin and Nyström, Kristina and Thuresson, Sara and Nygren, David and Churqui, Marianela Patzi and Hussein, Tareq and Fraenkel, Carl-Johan and Medstrand, Patrik and Löndahl, Jakob}},
  issn         = {{2045-2322}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Scientific Reports}},
  title        = {{Infectivity of exhaled SARS-CoV-2 aerosols is sufficient to transmit covid-19 within minutes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47829-8}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41598-023-47829-8}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}