Post-COVID, WHO identifies airborne transmission as a key factor in disease spread – ET HealthWorld

In a significant development, the World Health Organization (WHO) and approximately 500 experts have reached a consensus on defining what it means for a disease to spread through the air. The move aims to avoid the confusion witnessed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, which some scientists believe resulted in loss of lives. The technical document released by the Geneva-based U.N. health agency on Thursday marks the first step towards understanding and preventing airborne transmission of diseases, including existing ones like measles and potential future pandemics.

The WHO’s document establishes that the term “through the air” can be applied to infectious diseases primarily transmitted through airborne particles or suspended in the air, similar to how terms like “waterborne” diseases are universally recognized. The definition was crafted collaboratively by nearly 500 experts from diverse fields, such as physicists, public health professionals, and engineers, who have had differing opinions on the subject in the past.

Historically, stringent criteria were required to categorize diseases as airborne, leading to the implementation of highly strict containment measures. The new definition emphasizes considering the risk of exposure and disease severity while moving away from the previous distinctions between infectious particles as “droplets” or “aerosols” based on size.

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, concerns were raised by around 200 aerosol scientists regarding the WHO’s delay in acknowledging the potential airborne spread of the virus. The organization eventually recognized the evidence of airborne transmission, prompting a reevaluation of preventive strategies. The WHO’s current efforts are focused on developing a comprehensive understanding of airborne transmission to improve public health responses in various settings, from hospitals to schools.