Title |
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant shedding during respiratory activities
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Published in |
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 2023
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DOI | 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.03.029 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Kai Sen Tan, Sean Wei Xiang Ong, Ming Hui Koh, Douglas Jie Wen Tay, Daryl Zheng Hao Aw, Yi Wei Nah, Mohammed Ridzwan Bin Abdullah, Kristen K. Coleman, Donald K. Milton, Justin Jang Hann Chu, Vincent T.K. Chow, Paul Anantharajah Tambyah, Kwok Wai Tham |
Abstract |
As the world transitions to COVID-19 endemicity, studies focusing on aerosol shedding of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are vital for the calibration of infection control measures against VOCs that are likely to circulate seasonally. This follow-up G-II aerosol sampling study aims to compare the aerosol shedding patterns of Omicron VOC samples with pre-Omicron variants analyzed in our previous study. Coarse and fine aerosol samples from 47 SARS-CoV-2 infected patients were collected during various respiratory activities (passive breathing, talking, and singing) and analyzed via reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and virus culture. Compared to patients infected with pre-Omicron variants, comparable SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy numbers were detectable in aerosol samples of Omicron infected patients despite being fully vaccinated. Omicron-infected patients also showed a slight increase in viral aerosol shedding during breathing activities, and were more likely to have persistent aerosol shedding beyond 7 days post-disease onset. This follow-up study reaffirms the aerosol shedding properties of Omicron, and should guide continued layering of public health interventions even in highly vaccinated populations. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Japan | 251 | 16% |
United States | 73 | 5% |
United Kingdom | 56 | 4% |
Canada | 52 | 3% |
Australia | 21 | 1% |
Germany | 20 | 1% |
Austria | 9 | <1% |
Switzerland | 8 | <1% |
Mexico | 8 | <1% |
Other | 84 | 5% |
Unknown | 949 | 62% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1421 | 93% |
Scientists | 60 | 4% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 36 | 2% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 13 | <1% |
Unknown | 1 | <1% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 15 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Researcher | 8 | 53% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 3 | 20% |
Professor | 1 | 7% |
Other | 1 | 7% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 1 | 7% |
Other | 0 | 0% |
Unknown | 1 | 7% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 4 | 27% |
Engineering | 2 | 13% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 2 | 13% |
Environmental Science | 1 | 7% |
Physics and Astronomy | 1 | 7% |
Other | 1 | 7% |
Unknown | 4 | 27% |