scholarly journals Historical Discoveries on Viruses in the Environment and Their Impact on Public Health

Intervirology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
Thomas Labadie ◽  
Christophe Batéjat ◽  
India Leclercq ◽  
Jean-Claude Manuguerra
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Human Coronavirus ◽  
Indirect Transmission ◽  
Droplet Sizes

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Transmission of many viruses occurs by direct transmission during a close contact between two hosts, or by an indirect transmission through the environment. Several and often interconnected factors, both abiotic and biotic, determine the persistence of these viruses released in the environment, which can last from a few seconds to several years. Moreover, viruses in the environment are able to travel short to very long distances, especially in the air or in water. <b><i>Summary:</i></b> Although well described now, the role of these environments as intermediaries or as reservoirs in virus transmission has been extensively studied and debated in the last century. The majority of these discoveries, such as the pioneer work on bacteria transmission, the progressive discoveries of viruses, as well as the persistence of the influenza virus in the air varying along with droplet sizes, or the role of water in the transmission of poliovirus, have contributed to the improvement of public health. Recent outbreaks of human coronavirus, influenza virus, and Ebola virus have also demonstrated the contemporaneity of these research studies and the need to study virus persistence in the environment. <b><i>Key Messages:</i></b> In this review, we discuss historical discoveries that contributed to describe biotic and abiotic factors determining viral persistence in the environment.

scholarly journals Presence of Influenza Virus on Touch Surfaces in Kindergartens and Primary Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (8) ◽  
pp. 1329-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Whui Fong ◽  
Nancy H L Leung ◽  
Jingyi Xiao ◽  
Daniel K W Chu ◽  
Samuel M S Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Ribonucleic Acid ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Influenza Season ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Viral Rna ◽  
Potential Risks

Abstract Backgrounds Influenza virus can survive on some surfaces, facilitating indirect person-to-person transmission. Methods We collected swab samples weekly from commonly touched surfaces in 7 kindergartens and primary schools during the 2017/2018 winter influenza season in Hong Kong. Results We detected influenza virus ribonucleic acid (RNA) in 12 of 1352 samples (&lt;1%) collected from 7 of 11 classrooms (5 to 2 × 106 RNA copies/mL). Viral RNA was more frequently recovered from communal items inside classrooms such as bookshelves and doorknobs. Conclusions Surface contamination indicates the potential role of fomites in influenza virus transmission in schools. Communal items inside classrooms may cause greater potential risks of transmission during influenza epidemics.

scholarly journals The Need for an Air Sterilization Unit Before Releasing Bio-Hazardous Agents as COVID-19 Virioli in Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 350-351
Author(s):  
Liviu Popa-Simil
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Direct Transmission ◽  
Survival Times ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
Indirect Transmission

Transmission of many viruses occurs by direct transmission during a close contact between two hosts, or by an indirect transmission through the environment, where biotic and abiotic factors may act independently or connected to assure survival of viruses released in the environment, and further direct or intermediary carrier (rats, cats, dogs, squirrels, dears, etc.) transmission back to humans. It is supposed that virioli as SARS-CoV-2 may have exceptional survival times in cold, clean, dark environments traveling short to very long distances, especially in the air or in water, “waiting” for a host to multiply.

scholarly journals Porous surfaces: stability and recovery of coronaviruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Owen ◽  
Maitreyi Shivkumar ◽  
Richard B. M. Cross ◽  
Katie Laird
Keyword(s):  
Surface Properties ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Indirect Contact ◽  
Indirect Transmission ◽  
Hydrophobic Materials ◽  
Porous Surfaces ◽  
Potential Risks ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Review Current

The role of indirect contact in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is not clear. SARS-CoV-2 persists on dry surfaces for hours to days; published studies have largely focused on hard surfaces with less research being conducted on different porous surfaces, such as textiles. Understanding the potential risks of indirect transmission of COVID-19 is useful for settings where there is close contact with textiles, including healthcare, manufacturing and retail environments. This article aims to review current research on porous surfaces in relation to their potential as fomites of coronaviruses compared to non-porous surfaces. Current methodologies for assessing the stability and recovery of coronaviruses from surfaces are also explored. Coronaviruses are often less stable on porous surfaces than non-porous surfaces, for example, SARS-CoV-2 persists for 0.5 h–5 days on paper and 3–21 days on plastic; however, stability is dependent on the type of surface. In particular, the surface properties of textiles differ widely depending on their construction, leading to variation in the stability of coronaviruses, with longer persistence on more hydrophobic materials such as polyester (1–3 days) compared to highly absorbent cotton (2 h–4 days). These findings should be considered where there is close contact with potentially contaminated textiles.

A compendium of evidence related to ‘social distancing’measure in view of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic

Healthline ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
Anuradha Shah ◽  
Kunal Shah
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Definitive Treatment ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Influenza Pandemics ◽  
Health Measures

With no definitive treatment in place to date for the COVID-19 pandemic, reliance on public health measures is of utmost importance. Social distancing requires maintaining a physical distance of at least one meter between people and reducing the number of times people come into close contact with each other. Modeling evidence from past influenza pandemics and current experiences with COVID-19 indicates the role of SD in delaying the spread of the virus by reducing the probability that uninfected person will come into physical contact with an infected person.

scholarly journals Face masks to prevent transmission of influenza virus: a systematic review

2010 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. COWLING ◽  
Y. ZHOU ◽  
D. K. M. IP ◽  
G. M. LEUNG ◽  
A. E. AIELLO
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
English Language ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
International Health ◽  
Influenza Viruses ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Influenza A H1n1 ◽  
Health Agencies

SUMMARYInfluenza viruses circulate around the world every year. From time to time new strains emerge and cause global pandemics. Many national and international health agencies recommended the use of face masks during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. We reviewed the English-language literature on this subject to inform public health preparedness. There is some evidence to support the wearing of masks or respirators during illness to protect others, and public health emphasis on mask wearing during illness may help to reduce influenza virus transmission. There are fewer data to support the use of masks or respirators to prevent becoming infected. Further studies in controlled settings and studies of natural infections in healthcare and community settings are required to better define the effectiveness of face masks and respirators in preventing influenza virus transmission.

scholarly journals Transmission of Ebola Viruses: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

mBio ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Osterholm ◽  
Kristine A. Moore ◽  
Nicholas S. Kelley ◽  
Lisa M. Brosseau ◽  
Gary Wong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Strain Differences ◽  
Serial Passage ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Patient Contact ◽  
Small Particles ◽  
Direct Patient Contact

ABSTRACT Available evidence demonstrates that direct patient contact and contact with infectious body fluids are the primary modes for Ebola virus transmission, but this is based on a limited number of studies. Key areas requiring further study include (i) the role of aerosol transmission (either via large droplets or small particles in the vicinity of source patients), (ii) the role of environmental contamination and fomite transmission, (iii) the degree to which minimally or mildly ill persons transmit infection, (iv) how long clinically relevant infectiousness persists, (v) the role that “superspreading events” may play in driving transmission dynamics, (vi) whether strain differences or repeated serial passage in outbreak settings can impact virus transmission, and (vii) what role sylvatic or domestic animals could play in outbreak propagation, particularly during major epidemics such as the 2013–2015 West Africa situation. In this review, we address what we know and what we do not know about Ebola virus transmission. We also hypothesize that Ebola viruses have the potential to be respiratory pathogens with primary respiratory spread.

scholarly journals A Simulation Study on Hypothetical Ebola Virus Transmission in India Using Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM): A Way towards Precision Public Health

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arkaprabha Sau
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Simulation Study ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Model Simulation ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Compartment Model ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Precision Public Health

Background. Precision public health is a state-of-the-art concept in public health research and its application in health care. Application of information technology in field of epidemiology paves the way to its transformation to digital epidemiology. A geospatial epidemiological model was simulated to estimate the spread of Ebola virus disease after a hypothetical outbreak in India. Methods. It was a simulation study based on SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Recovered) compartmental model. Simulation was done in Spatiotemporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM). Epidemiological profile of Ebola virus, that transmitted throughout the Sierra Leon in 2014–2016, was fitted into the SEIR deterministic compartment model designed for India. Result. Spatiotemporal distribution of EVD exposed, infectious, and recovered population at 4-month interval represented by different figures. It is estimated that if no intervention is taken to stop the spread, within 2 years, almost half of the country will be effected by EVD and cumulative number of exposed individuals, infectious persons, and deaths will be 106947760, 30651674, and 18391005, respectively. Conclusion. Precision public health may play the key role to achieve the health related targets in the Sustainable Development Goals. Policy makers, public health specialists, and data scientists need to put their hands together to make precision public health a reality.

scholarly journals The Role of Hemagglutinin in Influenza Virus Transmission

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (S1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Fassler ◽  
Alex Babinski ◽  
Darina Georgieva ◽  
David Gui ◽  
Michael Gui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Influenza Virus ◽  
Virus Transmission
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