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Quote from the article: "As evidence, the research notes that Ebola virus has been found on the outside of face masks worn by health workers caring for victims
by Fjolsvith 8y ago
Quote from the article: "As evidence, the research notes that Ebola virus has been found on the outside of face masks worn by health workers caring for victims of the disease. It also points out that the virus has been passed between animals via respiration. And the authors say that Ebola can infect certain cells of the respiratory tract, including epithelial cells, which line body cavities, and macrophages, a type of white blood cell that consumes pathogens.
The paper notes that breathing, sneezing, coughing and talking can release droplets of fluid from the respiratory tract that travel short distances and most likely cause infection by settling on a mucous membrane. Those actions also release smaller airborne particles capable of suspension in mid-air that can be inhaled by others. Technically, both qualify as aerosols, the paper says."
Consider where those smaller airborne particles might land that could be ingested by people/animals. Say, in an open marketplace where there are produce/food vendors shooing Rhesus monkeys away.
- defterGoose 8y agoThis is why I always had a problem with the idea that they expound in "The Hot Zone"; that because the monkeys across the room from the sick monkeys didn't get sick, that the disease wasn't airborne. I always thought that the idea of a disease like that (which affects only animals capable of shooting virus-laden particles of mucus out of their faces at high velocity) not being airborne by definition was ridiculous.
- maxerickson 8y agoIt's a useful distinction to make: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-based-precautions.html https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/basics/transmission-bas... I guess using "airborne" with a technical definition is an invitation for arguing though.
- Retric 8y agoIt's a useful distinction to say someone walking through a room 30 seconds after a sick person left is or is not at significant risk. Especially when setting up quarantine etc. Basically, respiratory droplets are considered a different category from true airborne transmission because they are much easier to contain.