In:
Scientific Reports, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 11, No. 1 ( 2021-01-28)
Kurzfassung:
The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic had raised questions on the route of transmission of this disease. Initial understanding was that transmission originated from respiratory droplets from an infected host to a susceptible host. However, indirect contact transmission of viable virus by fomites and through aerosols has also been suggested. Herein, we report the involvement of fine indoor air particulates with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) as the virus’s transport agent. PM 2.5 was collected over four weeks during 48-h measurement intervals in four separate hospital wards containing different infected clusters in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Our results indicated the highest SARS-CoV-2 RNA on PM 2.5 in the ward with number of occupants. We suggest a link between the virus-laden PM 2.5 and the ward’s design. Patients’ symptoms and numbers influence the number of airborne SARS-CoV-2 RNA with PM 2.5 in an enclosed environment.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
2045-2322
DOI:
10.1038/s41598-021-81935-9
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publikationsdatum:
2021
ZDB Id:
2615211-3
