Evidence supporting Airborne transmission

Info extracted from this document filled by @JenniferKShea, @jmcrookston and @jljcolorado.

In lab setting, aerosolized pathogen remains stable and/or viable (infectious) in the air after significant time has passed

CHICKENPOX

TUBERCULOSIS

2011 · Clark

Genetic material of pathogen detected in aerosol samples,  on air grates, in air vents and/or on low-/no- touch surfaces

TUBERCULOSIS

Viable pathogen isolated from aerosol samples in laboratory settings (Cough/breath)

MEASLES

CHICKENPOX

SARS & MERS

Viable pathogen isolated from air samples in non laboratory settings

MEASLES

INFLUENZA

CHICKENPOX

TUBERCULOSIS

SARS & MERS

SARS:
2004 · Xiao

MERS:
2016 · Kim

Outbreak investigations showing high likelihood of transmission over “long distances” (ie > 2m)

INFLUENZA

1979 · Moser

Nosocomial outbreaks and/or transmission events despite droplet/contact precautions

INFLUENZA

2010 · Wong

TUBERCULOSIS

1988 · Kantor

1990 · Hutton

SARS & MERS

SARS:
2004 · Christian

2004 · Li

2004 · Yu

2004 · Wong

MERS:
2016 · Cho

Animal models showing isolation of pathogen from aerosol samples and/or transmission through the air

MEASLES

CHICKENPOX

SARS & MERS

SARS:
2021 · Kutter

MERS:
2020 · Totura

Human challenge trials (unethical with COVID) OR Human to animal transmission studies

MEASLES

CHICKENPOX

COVID-19

SARS & MERS