Why No One Got Sick in That Flu-Filled Room?
- A new study from the University of Maryland reveals that influenza transmission isn't as simple as close contact, offering insights into how to better protect against the especially...
- Researchers at the University of Maryland Schools of Public Health and Engineering in College Park and the School of medicine in Baltimore conducted a controlled clinical trial where...
- The study, published January 7, 2024, in PLOS Pathogens, is the first controlled clinical trial to examine airborne flu transmission between naturally infected individuals and those not infected.
Flu Transmission Study Reveals Surprising Findings About How the Virus spreads
Table of Contents
A new study from the University of Maryland reveals that influenza transmission isn’t as simple as close contact, offering insights into how to better protect against the especially harsh 2024 flu season, driven by the spread of subclade K. Researchers found that despite close proximity between infected and healthy individuals, the flu did not spread in a controlled experiment.
Experiment Design and Results
Researchers at the University of Maryland Schools of Public Health and Engineering in College Park and the School of medicine in Baltimore conducted a controlled clinical trial where college students infected with influenza were placed in a hotel room with healthy middle-aged adult volunteers. Despite this close contact, none of the healthy volunteers contracted the flu. This finding challenges conventional understanding of influenza transmission.
Why Transmission Didn’t Occur
The study, published January 7, 2024, in PLOS Pathogens, is the first controlled clinical trial to examine airborne flu transmission between naturally infected individuals and those not infected. Researchers identified coughing as a major factor in increasing the likelihood of flu transmission.
“Our data suggests key things that increase the likelihood of flu transmission — coughing is a major one,” said Dr. Jianyu lai, post-doctoral research scientist and lead data analyst for the study.
Implications for Flu Prevention
The findings suggest that focusing on mitigating coughing – through measures like covering coughs and wearing masks – could be a key strategy in preventing flu outbreaks. Dr. Donald Milton, a professor at the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, noted the surprising results given the widespread perception of flu transmission during the season. He previously identified methods to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“At this time of year,it seems like everyone is catching the flu virus. And yet our study showed no transmission — what does this say about how flu spreads and how to stop outbreaks?” Dr. Milton stated.
source: PLOS Pathogens – Airborne Transmission of Influenza A virus Is Affected by Host Factors