WATER REMAINS OUR SAVING GRACE RIGHT NOW - The lack of washing facility in many poor and developing countries becomes even more alarming, considering the surge of coronavirus cases. In most cases, the poorest bears the brunt of the burden. In the Philippines, where lack of access to washing facilities and clean water is prevalent among the urban poor, such deficiency has resulted in thousands of deaths annually to water-borne diseases. One can only look at the number of people without proper sanitation and safe water in the Philippines nearly a quarter of the Philippine population— 24 million Filipinos— lack proper sanitation (washing facility), while almost 7 million Filipinos still lack access to clean and safe water. Under normal circumstances, clean water is an extremely important resource that everyone should have access to. Since its discovery in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected entire nations across the world, destabilizing economies and threatening human lives on a massive scale. In just six months, the virus has infected more than 10 million people, with deaths mounting to half a million. To prevent the spread of contagion thru direct and indirect transmission, along with other health measures, the Philippine government implemented strict community quarantine in mid-March in Luzon and other parts of the country. Hand-washing and proper hand hygiene is the first line of defense against the coronavirus, the WHO said.

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Water remains our saving grace right now

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The lack of washing facility in many poor and developing countries becomes even more alarming, considering the surge of coronavirus cases. In most cases, the poorest bears the brunt of the burden. 

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In the Philippines, where lack of access to washing facilities and clean water is prevalent among the urban poor, such deficiency has resulted in thousands of deaths annually to water-borne diseases. One can only look at the number of people without proper sanitation and safe water in the Philippines nearly a quarter of the Philippine population— 24 million Filipinos— lack proper sanitation (washing facility), while almost 7 million Filipinos still lack access to clean and safe water. Under normal circumstances, clean water is an extremely important resource that everyone should have access to. But in the time of pandemic, it’s more than a necessity or an investment; it’s literally your first line of defense.

By: INQUIRER.net 

@inquirerdotnet

Since its discovery in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected entire nations across the world, destabilizing economies and threatening human lives on a massive scale.

In just six months, the virus has infected more than 10 million people, with deaths mounting to half a million, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In the Philippines, as of June 2020, the Department of Health (DOH) has documented more than 36,000 confirmed cases and almost 1,300 deaths.

To prevent the spread of contagion thru direct and indirect transmission, along with other health measures, the Philippine government implemented strict community quarantine in mid-March in Luzon and other parts of the country.

Working with the DOH, the WHO also issued guidelines in infection prevention and control, particularly constant handwashing and proper hand hygiene.

“Global hygiene crisis”

Hand-washing and proper hand hygiene is the first line of defense against the coronavirus, the WHO said.

However, this fairly simple precaution is not available to everyone, particularly among the poorest living in slums, who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

According to a 2019 report from the WHO and United Nations (UN), 40% of the global population— roughly 3 billion people— do not have basic handwashing facilities at home.

Out of that number, 1.6 billion do not have access to soap and water, while 1.4 billion do not have any washing facility (private bathrooms and toilets.)

Citing it as a “global hygiene crisis,” the UN has already included access to washing facility and safe water as part of its sustainable development goals, as the organization aims to ensure everyone has access to “adequate and equitable hygiene” by 2030.

“Without handwashing and adherence to good hygiene practices, the health and socio-economic benefits of improved water supply and sanitation cannot be fully realized and will impede progress towards many of the SDGs,” the UN said.

The lack of washing facility in many poor and developing countries becomes even more alarming, considering the surge of coronavirus cases.

In most cases, the poorest bears the brunt of the burden.

In the Philippines, where lack of access to washing facilities and clean water is prevalent among the urban poor, such deficiency has resulted in thousands of deaths annually to water-borne diseases.

In 2018, more than 22,000 Filipinos died from acute diarrhea and typhoid fever, according to the DOH.

As of now, there’s scant data regarding the effect of lack of washing facility and safe water and its correlation to the COVID-19.

To have a clearer picture, one can only look at the number of people without proper sanitation and safe water in the Philippines to deduce that it poses a greater health risk now more than ever.

Critical importance of clean water and sanitation

“COVID-19 virus primarily spreads through droplet and contact transmission. Contact transmission means by touching infected people and/or contaminated objects or surfaces. Thus, your hands can spread virus to other surfaces and/or to your mouth, nose or eyes if you touch them,” according to “Safe Hands” campaign by the WHO.

Hence, the health organization recommends frequent handwashing and proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of the virus.

But what if there’s no water? 

According to data from Water.Org, nearly a quarter of the Philippine population— 24 million Filipinos— lack proper sanitation (washing facility), while almost 7 million Filipinos still lack access to clean and safe water.

While alcohol and sanitizers can be used, handwashing remains the preferred choice of the WHO, especially as some alcohol-based surgical hand rubs were already debunked to contain  “residual active ingredients.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention already recommended using alcohol with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol in healthcare settings.

“Closing inequality gaps in the accessibility, quality and availability of water, sanitation and hygiene should be at the heart of government funding and planning strategies. To relent on investment plans for universal coverage is to undermine decades worth of progress at the expense of coming generations,” said Kelly Ann Naylor, UNICEF’s Associate Director of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.

“Investing in water, sanitation and hygiene is cost-effective and good for society in so many ways. It is an essential foundation for good health,” Naylor added.

Under normal circumstances, clean water is an extremely important resource that everyone should have access to.

But in the time of pandemic, it’s more than a necessity or an investment; it’s literally your first line of defense.

And it can save your life and those around you.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1301306/water-remains-our-saving-grace-right-now

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COVID-19 NOT SPREAD BY MOSQUITOES - A new study by Kansas State University researchers is the first to confirm that SARS-CoV-2 cannot be transmitted to people by mosquitoes. Stephen Higgs, associate vice president for research and director of the university’s Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI, together with colleagues from the BRI and the College of Veterinary Medicine had the findings published by Scientific Reports. The article, “SARS-CoV-2 failure to infect or replicate in mosquitoes: an extreme challenge,” details the study’s findings, which provide the first experimental investigation on the capacity of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, to infect and be transmitted by mosquitoes. “While the World Health Organization has definitively stated that mosquitoes cannot transmit the virus, our study is the first to provide conclusive data supporting the theory,” said Higgs, Peine professor of biosecurity and university distinguished professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology. The study, which was done at the BRI, a biosecurity level-3 facility, ultimately found that the virus is unable to replicate in three common and widely distributed species of mosquitoes — Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus — and therefore cannot be transmitted to humans.“I am proud of the work we are doing at K-State to learn as much as we can about this and other dangerous pathogens,” said Higgs.

 

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COVID-19 Not Spread By Mosquitoes

Scientific Inquirer

 

A new study by Kansas State University researchers is the first to confirm that SARS-CoV-2 cannot be transmitted to people by mosquitoes.

Stephen Higgs, associate vice president for research and director of the university’s Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI, together with colleagues from the BRI and the College of Veterinary Medicine had the findings published by Scientific Reports.

The article, “SARS-CoV-2 failure to infect or replicate in mosquitoes: an extreme challenge,” details the study’s findings, which provide the first experimental investigation on the capacity of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, to infect and be transmitted by mosquitoes.

“While the World Health Organization has definitively stated that mosquitoes cannot transmit the virus, our study is the first to provide conclusive data supporting the theory,” said Higgs, Peine professor of biosecurity and university distinguished professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology.

The study, which was done at the BRI, a biosecurity level-3 facility, ultimately found that the virus is unable to replicate in three common and widely distributed species of mosquitoes — Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus — and therefore cannot be transmitted to humans.

“I am proud of the work we are doing at K-State to learn as much as we can about this and other dangerous pathogens,” said Higgs.

“This work was possible because of the unique capabilities of the BRI and the dedicated BRI and institutional staff.”

Colleagues involved with the study include Yan-Jang Huang, research assistant professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Dana Vanlandingham, professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; Ashley Bilyeu and Haelea Sharp, research assistants in diagnostic medicine and pathobiology; and Susan Hettenbach, research assistant at the BRI.

Researchers at the BRI have completed four additional studies on COVID-19 since March and this is the first peer-reviewed publication based on SARS-CoV-2 experiments wholly conducted at K-State.

Research at the Biosecurity Research Institute has been ongoing with other animal pathogens that can be transmitted from animals to people, including Rift Valley fever and Japanese encephalitis, as well as diseases that could devastate America’s food supply, such as African swine fever and classical swine fever.

The research was in part supported by the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility Transition Fund provided by the state of Kansas.

“We have remarkable talent and capabilities working within our research and training facility at the BRI,” said Peter Dorhout, K-State vice president for research.

“The BRI is one of the critical anchor facilities in the North Campus Corridor, which serves as our growing research and development space for private sector and government agency partnerships with K-State.”

The Scientific Inquirer is dedicated to exploring the junction where science and life meet, whether it’s in the lab or the studio or the diamond. There’s science everywhere and it’s amazing.

https://scientificinquirer.com/2020/07/17/covid-19-not-spread-by-mosquitoes-study/

FACE SHIELDS MAY NOT PROTECT AGAINST COVID-19 SPREAD - Visualization shows face shields may not protect against COVID-19 spread - Small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor, the study found. A new visualization shows why face shields and masks with exhalation valves may not be the best barriers for preventing the spread of COVID-19. Although face shields initially block droplets from a simulated cough, small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor and eventually spread over a large area, according to the visualization. For masks with exhalation valves, a stream of droplets passes, unfiltered, through the valve, meaning the mask would in theory do little to hinder the spread of potentially infectious droplets. In contrast, the researchers previously showed that some cotton face masks reduce the spread of droplets to only a few inches from the face during a simulated cough. The simulations in the new study "indicate that face shields and masks with exhale valves may not be as effective as regular face masks in restricting the spread of aerosolized droplets," the authors wrote. Face masks have become a part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic. But some people are turning to plastic face shields or masks with exhalation values because they find these alternatives more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Face shields also have the advantage of allowing users to show facial expressions.

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Face shields may not protect against COVID-19 spread

Visualization shows face shields may not protect against COVID-19 spread
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Since the study was a simulation, it doesn't provide data on the exact conditions that would result in the spread of an infection. With SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it's unclear exactly how long the virus remains infectious in the air, and how far infectious particles can travel, or how much virus is needed to make a person sick. Even the very best masks have some degree of leakage - so it's still important to maintain physical distance while wearing masks to mitigate transmission 

By Rachael Rettner - Senior Writer 

Small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor, the study found.

A new visualization shows why face shields and masks with exhalation valves may not be the best barriers for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Although face shields initially block droplets from a simulated cough, small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor and eventually spread over a large area, according to the visualization, which is detailed in a study published Tuesday (Sept. 1) in the journal Physics of Fluids.

For masks with exhalation valves, a stream of droplets passes, unfiltered, through the valve, meaning the mask would in theory do little to hinder the spread of potentially infectious droplets. 

In contrast, the researchers previously showed that some cotton face masks reduce the spread of droplets to only a few inches from the face during a simulated cough, Live Science previously reported.

The simulations in the new study "indicate that face shields and masks with exhale valves may not be as effective as regular face masks in restricting the spread of aerosolized droplets," the authors wrote. 

Face masks have become a part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But some people are turning to plastic face shields or masks with exhalation values because they find these alternatives more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Face shields also have the advantage of allowing users to show facial expressions.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend either of these as alternatives to cloth masks.

Masks with one-way valves, which are intended for use in construction work, allow users to breathe in filtered air and exhale warm, moist (and unfiltered) air through the valve, Live Science previously reported.

But because respiratory droplets from the wearer are expelled into the air, the CDC says people should not wear these masks to prevent COVID-19 spread.

The CDC also does not recommend face shields as a substitute for cloth masks because evidence is lacking to show their effectiveness, the agency says.

"As students return to schools and universities, some have wondered if it is better to use face shields, as they are more comfortable and easier to wear for longer periods of time," study lead author Siddhartha Verma, an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science, said in a statement.

"But what if these shields are not as effective? You would be essentially putting everyone in a tight space with droplets accumulating over time, which could potentially lead to infections."

In the new study, the researchers simulated coughing by connecting a mannequin's head to a fog machine — which creates a vapor from water and glycerin — and using a pump to expel the vapor through the mannequin's mouth.

They then visualized the vapor droplets using a "laser sheet" created by passing a green laser pointer through a cylindrical rod.

In this setup, simulated cough droplets appear as a glowing green vapor flowing from the mannequin's mouth.

For the face shield simulation, the shield initially deflected droplets toward the ground after a cough.

But small droplets remained suspended at the bottom of the shield and then floated around the sides, eventually spreading about 3 feet (0.9 meters) to the front and sides of the mannequin.

In some cases, the droplets spread backward, behind the mannequin, instead of forward.

For the mask with a valve, a jet of droplets passed through the valve in the front of the masks during coughing.

Initially, this jet of droplets traveled toward the ground, but eventually the droplets dispersed over a wide area.

The researchers also tested two different brands of commercially available surgical masks. Both of these masks were not recommended for medical use by the manufacturers.

Although the masks looked similar, one brand was effective at stopping the forward spread of aerosolized droplets, while the other allowed a high number of droplets to leak through the mask. 

"This indicates that even among commercially available masks which may appear to be similar superficially, there can be significant underlying differences in the quality and type of materials used for manufacturing the masks," the authors said.

Since the study was a simulation, it doesn't provide data on the exact conditions that would result in the spread of an infection.

For example, with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it's unclear exactly how long the virus remains infectious in the air, and how far infectious particles can travel, or how much virus is needed to make a person sick.

The authors also noted that "even the very best masks have some degree of leakage," Verma said.

So "it's still important to maintain physical distance while wearing [masks] to mitigate transmission." 

Originally published on Live Science.  

Rachael Rettner

Senior Writer

Rachael has been with Live Science since 2010. She has a masters degree in journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in molecular biology and a Master of Science in biology from the University of California, San Diego.

https://www.livescience.com/face-shield-visualization-covid-19-spread.html?utm_source=notification

AIR CONDITIONING MAY BE SPREADING COVID - As COVID-19 cases rise rapidly some scientists believe there could be an important, but overlooked factor in the spread of the virus in the region -- air conditioning. Just as chilly winter temps create the perfect conditions for passing colds and flu — driving people indoors and into closer proximity for more hours of the day where it’s easy to swap germs, researchers believe broiling heat in the southern U.S. could be having the same effect, sending people indoors where whirring air conditioners are running full blast. Air conditioning is also risky because of the way air handlers work. When outdoor temperatures are extreme, HVAC systems adjust the mix of fresh air they pull in to save energy. That means the hotter it is outside, the more indoor air recirculates, which means, you’re breathing a higher percentage of the same air that other people are exhaling. If someone in the building is shedding the new coronavirus, it can build up in the recirculated air. And this may seem obvious, but air conditioners have fans that blow the air around. That gives the smallest viral particles — aerosols -- extra lift to stay suspended in the air. The air currents that are produced by air conditioners and also fans and other air moving devices can carry particles further than they might otherwise go. Air conditioners also remove moisture from the air, and we know viruses prefer dry air.

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Air Conditioning May Be Spreading COVID

By Brenda Goodman, MA

As COVID-19 cases rise rapidly throughout the South, some scientists believe there could be an important, but overlooked factor in the spread of the virus in the region -- air conditioning.

Just as chilly winter temps create the perfect conditions for passing colds and flu — driving people indoors and into closer proximity for more hours of the day where it’s easy to swap germs, researchers believe broiling heat in the southern U.S. could be having the same effect, sending people indoors where whirring air conditioners are running full blast.

“You go indoors for the cool, just as in the northeast and other cool places you go in for the warmth in winter, so you’re less socially distanced,” says Edward Nardell, MD, professor of environmental health and immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

“You’re more likely to be touching the same surfaces that have been contaminated by people speaking and coughing etc.,” he says.

And that’s not the only problem.

Air conditioning is also risky because of the way air handlers work. When outdoor temperatures are extreme, HVAC systems adjust the mix of fresh air they pull in to save energy.

That means the hotter it is outside, the more indoor air recirculates, which means, “You’re breathing a higher percentage of the same air that other people are exhaling,” Nardell says.

If someone in the building is shedding the new coronavirus, it can build up in the recirculated air.

And this may seem obvious, but air conditioners have fans that blow the air around.

That gives the smallest viral particles — aerosols -- extra lift to say suspended in the air for longer.

“The air currents that are produced by air conditioners and also fans and other air moving devices can carry particles further than they might otherwise go,” he says.

Air conditioners also remove moisture from the air, “and we know viruses prefer dry air,” he says.

In certain situations, that combination of factors may create the perfect conditions for contagion.

Emerging Evidence Points To Airborne Transmission

Studies of air conditioning come as more evidence emerges about airborne spread of COVID-19.

In a commentary published this week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, an international group of 239 scientists have appealed to “national and international bodies” including the World Health Organization, to recognize this potential for airborne spread.

“We’re pushing because we need very clear, consistent messaging to the world,” said Shelly Miller, PhD, a professor of mechanical engineering who studies indoor air quality at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Miller was one of the chief proponents of the commentary.

“This virus is opportunistically airborne, you can get it by inhaling it,” she says.

Miller and others believe that WHO and other public health agencies have a blind spot when it comes to airborne transmission.

“Based on our assessments of outbreaks, air sampling, and animal studies and we have just as much evidence to show that airborne transmission is happening as is surface transmission, so we need clear guidance for how to address this,” Miller says.

In its latest press briefing, WHO experts responded to the communication, and said the agency would be publishing a scientific brief summarizing their view of the science shortly.

“We acknowledge that there is emerging evidence in this field,” said Benedetta Allegranzi, MD, WHO’s technical lead for infection prevention and control.

 “We believe we have to be open to this evidence and understand its implications regarding the modes of transmission and the precautions that need to be taken,” she said.

The Role of Air Conditioning

So far, there are just a few studies pointing to the role of air conditioning in the spread of COVID-19. They indicate more research in the area is needed.

In July, Chinese scientists published a short study detailing the results of their investigation of a cluster of COVID-19 cases linked to the same restaurant.

The 10 diners who fell ill were all sitting at tables on the same side of the room.

The tables were spaced more than 3 feet apart, though, indicating that the virus probably wasn’t being passed through larger droplets, which fall out of the air pretty quickly.

Instead, they think “strong airflow” from a wall mounted air conditioner probably spread aerosols, or “micro-droplets”, from a single infected, but asymptomatic person over the tables, infecting three different families.

In another study, which hasn’t yet been peer reviewed, researchers swabbed three different HVAC units at the Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland.

Then they checked their samples for the presence of genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The swabs were positive in 1 out of every 4 samples taken.

“We found it in multiple locations within the air handler,” says study author Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg, PhD, a professor of architecture and director of the Institute for Health in the Built Environment at the University of Oregon in Eugene.

A similar study, from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, detected genetic material from the virus in air samples collected from rooms of COVID-19 patients, even air samples collected from more than six feet away.

Van Den Wymelenberg says their study can’t prove that the remnants of the virus they picked up could have actually infected anyone.

To know that, they would have had to try to grow their samples alongside cells in a petri dish and watch to see if those cells were infected.

Those are expensive studies to perform and they require a specialized lab certified to handle highly contagious germs — called a biosafety level 3 lab.

Those are less common, and they’re all currently slammed with projects.

But he says his study does show that genetic material from the virus is making it into the machinery of massive air handlers in hospitals, even ones that are using good filters, and he thinks that should make public health experts closely consider air conditioning as a vehicle for virus spread.

Steps for Safer Indoor Air

Miller says that the easiest thing to keep the virus from building up inside is to bring in more outdoor air.

In homes, that means opening windows and doors regularly to let fresh air in.

That’s harder to do in commercial buildings.

“What we’ve been recommending to minimize risk indoors is to provide 100% outside air, which you can’t do if you’re trying to heat or cool because it just costs way too much money,” she said.

Another strategy to reduce the risk of being indoors is to kill airborne viruses with special wall or ceiling mounted boxes that emit short-range UV radiation.

This kind of UV light doesn’t damage skin the way sunlight does, but still zaps harmful germs.

These so-called upper-room germicidal systems have successfully controlled outbreaks of other airborne pathogens, like tuberculosis, Nardell says.

Finally, you can invest in an air cleaner.

Miller cautions that if you go this route, you need to do a fair amount of homework first, learning about things like a machine’s clean air delivery rate, or CADR.

“I purchased an air cleaner strictly to operate when and if somebody in my household gets sick so we can reduce the viral load in my house air,” she says.

Ionizing cleaners don’t work, she says.

Miller recommends checking the website of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, or AHAM to find a good air cleaner.

“They have a whole website set up to do your research and buy a good air cleaner that will work in your home or office,” she says.

Brenda Goodman, MA, is a staff writer for WebMD.  Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scientific American, Psychology Today, The Boston Globe, Self, Shape, Parade, U.S. News and World Report, and Atlanta Magazine. She has a master’s degree in science and environmental reporting from New York University.

https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200708/air-conditioning-may-be-spreading-covid