![]() ![]() It is now known that respiratory infections are caused by pathogens emitted through the nose or mouth of an infected person and transported to a susceptible host. For decades, the focus of architects and building engineers was on thermal comfort, odour control, perceived air quality, initial investment cost, energy use and other performance issues, whereas infection control was neglected.įor decades, the focus of architects and building engineers was on thermal comfort, odour control, perceived air quality, initial investment cost, energy use and other performance issues, whereas infection control was neglected. Respiratory outbreaks have been repeatedly “explained away” by invoking droplet transmission or inadequate hand hygiene. ![]() ![]() The design and construction of modern buildings make few if any modifications for this airborne risk (other than for specialised medical, research or manufacturing facilities, for example). Buildings and their airflows are complicated, and measurement methods for such studies are complex and not generally standardised. Authorities are trained in surveillance, sampling and investigation of clusters of potential food and waterborne outbreaks.īy contrast, airborne studies are much more difficult to conduct because air as a contagion medium is nebulous, widespread, not owned by anybody and uncontained. Standards have been enacted for all aspects of food and water processing, as well as wastewater and sewage. This has led to the current public health structures in well-resourced countries. Food and water contamination nearly always come from an easily identifiable source, such as a pipe or package of food. Sure, it is much harder to trace airborne infections. How can this still be so in the 21 st century, in the middle of a global pandemic, when we now understand beyond doubt that this is how viruses are transmitted? By contrast, airborne pathogens and respiratory infections, whether seasonal influenza or COVID-19, are addressed weakly, if at all, pertaining to the air we breathe. Governments have for decades legislated and invested heavily in food safety, sanitation and drinking water for public health purposes. For more stories like this, subscribe to Cosmos Weekly. This article on Lidia Morawska first appeared in Cosmos Weekly on 2 July 2021. Cosmos spoke to her recently about the importance of understanding air-borne disease – especially in a pandemic. Brisbane professor Lidia Morawska has been named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for her work on bringing attention to the airborne spread of COVID-19. ![]()
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