hundreds of thousands of people worldwide every year. In a pandemic, such as the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, millions can lose their lives.In order to reduce transmission, scientists need to understand exactly how influenza viruses spread from person to person.
Experts have assumed that the droplets produced when a person with the virus breathes, talks, coughs, or sneezes are solely responsible for the airborne transmission of viruses. But a new study suggests that dust, fibers, and other microscopic particles can also transmit influenza viruses through the air, with far-reaching implications for preventing and controlling outbreaks.“It’s really shocking to most virologists and epidemiologists that airborne dust, rather than expiratory.