The absolutely farcical inability of WHO to use the word AIRBORNE in discussions about the mode of transmission and appropriate precautions for healthcare workers continues on from COVID-19 in their Hanta virus fact sheets .…..
…..public messaging is led once again by epidemiologist Maria who now uses the vague and unhelpful term “close contact” that does not clarify the mode or the science of transmission.
A commonsense question about what “close contact” means from the reporter in the clip below tries to get clarification but Maria will not, or cannot, answer the question.
A question so vital for knowing what situations are likely to put you at risk and what is necessary to stay safe.
Reporter: “When you say close contact …could you perhaps specify what you mean by that exactly……what does close contact mean? Does that mean people who have been in physical contact ….within the same room….and just a little bit of detail on how therefore it would spread…. because how here is quite important to understand…”
We need more than epidemiological terms that fail to enlighten us on the basic science of “how” a pathogen spreads from one person to another.
(Note that unless scuba diving, shared air is common to everyone in close contact🤔)
As the reporter says it’s a simple but important question essential to communicate what is understood!!
A question that if it cannot be answered with any certainty, at least requires some discussion of the science and potential likely mechanisms.
Vague and unhelpful epidemiological terms like “close contact” are not enough to formulate the most effective mitigation strategies we need for any deadly pathogen. Advising “close contact” is even more useless in deciding on what sort of “transmission based precautions” are required in healthcare….contact, droplet, airborne…??
If uncertainty persists explain what we do know about the science, or get someone in WHO that can explain it, and at least also emphasise the place of the precautionary principle in guidance if any doubt.
(While on the the topic of getting clarity about what we know about the science of transmission from WHO, a reminder that we can never again tolerate misinformation, and definitely never again, lies or disinformation)
@DrTedros @gabbystern @KuzmanovicA @vismitag
x.com/whoafro/status/2052104…
Lazarus Long
The reporter here who asks Maria a simple question about “how it is spread” realises the fundamental importance of understanding the mode of transmission to any sort of understanding of risk, and to any sort of logical and meaningful mitigation response.
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Maria has trouble answering the simple question about what she means by the contentious term “close contact”
…..maybe time “to set up a consultation to change the language” or put an end to this term?
Something to consider….is not sharing of air the most universal thing to happen when people are in “close contact” especially when in enclosed poorly ventilated spaces or breathing within the concentrated plume of exhaled aerosols?