NEWS – The World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced new terminology to describe airborne viruses, which they now refer to as “pathogens that transmit through the air.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Definition of Airborne Viruses
  • The new term describes diseases caused by infectious particles that multiply in the respiratory tract and spread through breathing, speaking, singing, coughing, or sneezing.
  • It aims to clarify how pathogens transmit, crucial for determining effective control measures.
• Impact on Public Health and Policy
  • Misunderstandings about airborne transmission delayed recommendations like mask-wearing and indoor ventilation during the initial stages of Covid-19, potentially impacting lives.
  • Government actions worldwide now focus on mitigating airborne diseases, with guidelines on reducing respiratory particles indoors.
• Complexity of Terminology and Consequences
  • The working group’s report highlights the complexity and sensitivity of the consultation process.
  • Consensus was reached on terms like “infectious respiratory particles,” moving away from strict size distinctions and acknowledging long-range transmission.
• Implications for Infection Control
  • Long-distance transmission on tiny respiratory particles may require rigorous infection control measures, raising legal, logistic, operational, and financial concerns.
  • Engineers, physicists, clinicians, and epidemiologists will use the new terminology to assess airborne particles’ implications and effectiveness of countermeasures like masks.
• Evolution of Understanding
  • Initial WHO guidance focused on direct contact and respiratory droplets, with masks considered acceptable unless aerosol generation was likely.
  • The new terminology recognizes a continuum of particle sizes, avoiding strict cutoff points and providing a more nuanced approach to infection control