Following an extensive series of consultations with leading public health agencies and experts worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released a comprehensive report titled “Global technical consultation report on proposed terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air.” This important document is the product of a multi-year collaboration that aimed to standardize the language used to describe the transmission of airborne pathogens, including those responsible for diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, measles, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), and tuberculosis.
The initiative began in response to the challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where varying terminologies across different scientific disciplines and public health contexts led to significant communication barriers and operational inefficiencies. The new terminology aims to bridge these gaps, ensuring that public health professionals have a common language to discuss and address the spread of airborne diseases.
The report introduces the term ‘infectious respiratory particles’ or IRPs to describe particles that are expelled from the respiratory tract when an individual breathes, talks, sings, coughs, or sneezes. It emphasizes that these particles exist on a continuum of sizes and that traditional distinctions between ‘aerosols’ (smaller particles) and ‘droplets’ (larger particles) may be overly simplistic and not useful for public health interventions.
WHO Clarifies ‘Through the Air’ Pathogen Transmission with New Guidelines
The term ‘through the air’ has been recommended to generically describe transmission mechanisms of infectious diseases where pathogens travel or remain suspended in the air. Under this broad category, the report specifies two primary modes of transmission:
- Airborne transmission or inhalation: This occurs when IRPs are expelled into the air and inhaled by another person, potentially over distances influenced by airflow, humidity, temperature, and ventilation.
- Direct deposition: This mode describes instances when IRPs are expelled by an infectious person and directly land on or are inhaled by another individual nearby, specifically impacting the mouth, nose, or eyes.
The collaborative effort, as described by Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist, involved a wide array of public health agencies including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The unified approach in developing these terms demonstrates a global commitment to enhancing the clarity and efficiency of public health communication and response strategies against airborne diseases.
WHO Collaboration Sets Stage for Advancing Airborne Disease Research
Dr. Gagandeep Kang from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, and Dr. Yuguo Li from the University of Hong Kong, co-chairs of the WHO Technical Working Group, highlighted the unprecedented collaborative nature of this consultation. They noted that reaching a consensus on these terms not only addresses a critical and timely issue but also sets the stage for ongoing advancements in the research and management of diseases transmitted through the air.
This extensive consultation marks just the initial phase of ongoing global scientific discussions led by WHO. Future steps involve further technical and multidisciplinary research to explore the broader implications of implementing these updated descriptors in real-world settings. This groundwork aims to enhance our understanding and control of airborne diseases, ultimately improving global health outcomes.
Resource: World Health Organization, April 18, 2024
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