AIRBORNE VIRUS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: Airborne viruses will be called “pathogens that transmit through the air” under new terminology the World Health Organization hopes will end a scientific rift that hampered the early response to Covid-19.

Airborne Virus

• About: these are bacteria or viruses that are most commonly transmitted through small respiratory droplets.
• Types of Air-borne Disease:  Influenza, Common Cold,  Mumps, Chicken Pox, Measles · Tuberculosis, Whooping Cough, Diphtheria etc.
• Transmission: Aerosolized particles from infected individuals spread through coughing, sneezing, breathing, and talking, facilitating easy transmission.
• Surface Contamination: Some airborne pathogens can survive on surfaces for a short period, leading to potential transmission through contact with contaminated surfaces.
• Stability of Airborne Viruses: While airborne viruses are generally unstable outside the host body, caution is necessary as infected body fluid droplets can still transmit infections.
• Treatment: Unlike some other diseases, airborne viruses often lack specific medications for treatment, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures and early intervention with antiviral drugs like Tamiflu in certain cases.