Researchers from the University of Maryland conducted an unusual experiment that indicated being in the same room with a person sick with the flu does not always lead to contagion. The findings of the work, released January 7th in the journal PLOS Pathogens, unveil new specifics regarding the virus’s transmission mechanisms.
Five students confirmed to have the flu and eleven healthy middle-aged volunteers participated in the study. They spent time together on an isolated floor of a hotel for two weeks, simulating typical household interaction. Despite close proximity, including discussions and shared activities, none of the healthy participants became infected.
Scientists isolated several elements that account for this defense. Firstly, the infected students rarely coughed, even with a high viral load, thus releasing very few viral particles into the air. Secondly, continuous ventilation and the use of heaters and dehumidifiers quickly diluted the virus in the space. Thirdly, the participants’ age was a factor: middle-aged adults are usually less susceptible to the flu than younger individuals.
Doctor Jianyu Lai, who led the data analysis, stressed that coughing remains the primary element raising the probability of infection. Professor Donald Milton noted that the greatest hazard exists during close face-to-face communication in enclosed areas with stagnant air. As prevention, the researchers advise employing portable air purifiers and donning N95 masks, particularly when interacting with coughing individuals.
The trial took place in 2023–2024, featuring daily collection of exhaled air samples utilizing the specialized “Gesundheit II” device. The research emphasizes the significance of grasping the transmission elements of influenza, which annually afflicts up to a billion people worldwide. In the USA this season, a minimum of 7.5 million cases, roughly 81 thousand hospitalizations, and over 3 thousand fatalities have been documented.
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