Beware on the Bus: Likely SARS-CoV-2 Airborne Transmission on a Bus with Air-Recirculating Heaters

In a “natural experiment,” a high attack rate was observed regardless of distance from the single index patient.

Multiple super-spreader events of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, and the role of airborne transmission during these events has been debated (NEJM JW Infect Dis Aug 2020 and MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020; 69:606). In the current report, investigators from China describe a super-spreader event with probable airborne transmission.

In January 2020, two similar buses with 60 and 68 passengers, respectively, transported lay Buddhists to a temple about 50 minutes away. The temple event lasted for about 150 minutes and included a lunch with 172 other attendees who did not travel by bus. One passenger on bus #2 had had contact with residents from Wuhan and developed symptoms of COVID-19 one day after the trip. On bus #2, investigation revealed 24/68…

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Beware on the Bus: Likely SARS-CoV-2 Airborne Transmission on a Bus with Air-Recirculating Heaters

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Reviewing Author