Jump to content
Male HQ

Coronavirus CAN spread in warm and humid conditions as scientists find a 'superspreader' in China passed the virus to EIGHT people in a swimming baths where temperatures reach 106°F


GachiMuchi

Recommended Posts

Coronavirus CAN spread in warm and humid conditions as scientists find a 'superspreader' in China passed the virus to EIGHT people in a swimming baths where temperatures reach 106°F

  • Eight people with COVID-19 caught it from a single 'superspreader' in a pool
  • They say this shows the coronavirus can spread in warm and humid conditions 
  • This contradicts an study that suggested it would slow as temperatures rise 
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

 

By RYAN MORRISON FOR MAILONLINE 

PUBLISHED: 16:00 BST, 30 March 2020 | UPDATED: 16:18 BST, 30 March 2020

 

Coronavirus can be passed between people in the kind of warm and humid conditions found in swimming pools and saunas, a new study finds.

Researchers from Nanjing Medical University, China, say there was a cluster of eight cases of COVID-19 passed from a single 'super-spreader' in a swimming bath.   

Previous reports have suggested that the virus doesn't do well in hot and humid conditions, but the researchers suggest this is likely wrong. 

They say the case of the super-spreader in the swimming centre saw eight people who used or worked in the facility experience symptoms within days.

The Nanjing team say the virus is unlikely to be slowed down by warmer or more humid temperatures, as previous studies suggested.

Scroll down for video 

The superspreader had visited Wuhan, the original epicentre of COVID-19 before going to the swimming centre where he passed the virus on to eight people
 
+2
  •  

The superspreader had visited Wuhan, the original epicentre of COVID-19 before going to the swimming centre where he passed the virus on to eight people

Temperatures in the baths where the super-spreader swarm - which included swimming pools, showers and a sauna - ranged from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A previous study by researchers at Beihang University in China said warmer and more humid temperatures would likely slow the spread of the the deadly virus. 

'High temperature and high relative humidity significantly reduce the transmission of COVID-1, the study authors wrote.

Beihang and Singhua teams assessed data on more than 100 cities in China where there were 40 or more cases of coronavirus between January 21 and January 23. 

They tracked the estimated number of transmissions, temperatures and humidities in those cities prior to January 24, when lockdowns went.

Experts worldwide say roughly every person infected gives COVID-19 to between two and two-and-a-half people - Beihang researchers say that falls as humidity rises.

The new study of coronavirus patients at the bath centre examined whether the 60 per cent humidity and high temperature played a part in the rapid spread.

The 'superspreader' went to the bath centre on January 18 after travelling to Wuhan, the researchers found, saying he developed a fever the next day.  

 

He was diagnosed with COVID-19 on January 25 having already passed it on to seven other people who swam in the centre the same day he did.

The symptoms associated with COVID-19, including fever, cough, headache, and chest congestion,' researchers say.

All of those symptoms appeared in the seven patients beyond the 'superspreader' between six and nine days after visiting the bath centre. 

A ninth patient was working in the bath centre and experienced onset of COVID-19 related symptoms on January 30. 

'Infection in all patients was confirmed by positive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay results,' the Chinese scientists said.

They published a research letter explaining their findings, and warning that, contrary to earlier studies, COVID-19 is unlikely to slowdown when temperatures rise.

The all male patients in the new study were aged between 24 and 50 with 89 per cent of them reporting a fever and 78 per cent reporting a cough. 

'Previous studies have demonstrated that the transmission rate of a virus is significantly weakened in an environment with high temperature and humidity,' the research team wrote.

Researchers say the virus, which has gripped the world, can survive in a wide range of conditions and is unlikely to be slowed down by warmer or more humid temperatures
 
+2
  •  

Researchers say the virus, which has gripped the world, can survive in a wide range of conditions and is unlikely to be slowed down by warmer or more humid temperatures

'However, judging from the results of this study, the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 showed no signs of weakening in warm and humid conditions.

'A total of eight individuals who used or worked in the bath centre experienced symptoms within 6 to 9 days of their visit to the centre, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 could spread and cause infection in such an environment. 

'The transmission routes may also be respiratory droplets or contact, but our results suggest that the cluster transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can still arise in an environment with high temperature and humidity. 

'These results provide a potential epidemiological clue for this novel coronavirus.'

The team say their study is limited by a lack of detail about the transmission routes for all of the patients in the bath centre. 

The research has been published in the journal JAMA Network Open. <-- Click link to see report

------------------------------

 

March 30, 2020
JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e204583. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.4583

 

Introduction

In December 2019, a novel pneumonia named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan, China, and has since spread to 25 countries. Current reports show that SARS-CoV-2 is closely related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)1,2 and that it has a greater transmissibility than other coronaviruses. The confirmed transmission modes of SARS-CoV-2 include respiratory droplets and physical contact, and the incubation period for the virus is approximately 3 to 7 days, but it can be as long as 24 days.3 In this case series, we report a cluster-spreading event in Huai’an (700 km northeast of Wuhan) in Jiangsu Province, China, in which a patient with SARS-CoV-2 may have transmitted the virus to 8 other healthy individuals via bathing in a public bath center.

 
Methods

Data were collected from Huai’an No. 4 Hospital of Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 9 patients who had been to the same bath center were hospitalized and enrolled from January 25, 2020, to February 10, 2020. Throat swab samples were collected, and SARS-CoV-2 was detected using a quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay. Computed tomography and hematological examinations were performed for auxiliary diagnoses. Data were analyzed with Prism version 7.00 (GraphPad). This study was approved by the ethics committee of Huai’an No. 4 Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. This study followed the reporting guideline for case series. No prespecified threshold for statistical significance was set.

Results

The bath center for men was approximately 300 m2, with temperatures from 25 to 41 °C and humidity of approximately 60%. It contained a swimming pool, showers, and sauna. The first patient (patient 1) had traveled to Wuhan. He went to the bath center and showered on January 18, 2020. He started experiencing a fever on January 19, 2020, and was diagnosed with COVID-19 on January 25, 2020. The next 7 patients showered, used the sauna, and swam in the same center on January 19 (patients 2, 3, and 4), January 20 (patient 5), January 23 (patients 6 and 7), and January 24 (patient 8). The symptoms associated with COVID-19, including fever, cough, headache, and chest congestion, appeared between 6 and 9 days after visiting the bath center. Patient 9 was working in the bath center and experienced onset on January 30. Infection in all patients was confirmed by positive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay results (Figure).

The median (interquartile range) age of the patients was 35 (24-50) years. A total of 8 patients (89%) reported fever (mean [SD] duration, 5.78 [2.99] days), and 7 patients (78%) reported a cough. Few patients (3 [33%]) showed debilitation, chest distress (2 [22%]), or anorexia (1 [11%]). Diarrhea, myalgia, rhinorrhea, and headache were not reported. C-reactive protein levels were elevated in 9 patients (100%; mean [SD], 3.34 [3.18] mg/dL; to convert to milligrams per liter, multiply by 10). Lymphopenia occurred in 3 patients (33%), lactate dehydrogenase was increased in 3 patients (33%; mean [SD], 225.56 [85.33] U/L; to convert to microkatals per liter, multiply by 0.0167), and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase was increased in 2 patients (22%; mean [SD], 30.22 [13.94] U/L) (Table).

Computed tomography examinations were performed, and the ground glass opacities were observed in all 9 patients. As of February 10, 2020, no patients required respiratory support.

Discussion

Previous studies have demonstrated that the transmission rate of a virus is significantly weakened in an environment with high temperature and humidity.4 However, judging from the results of this study, the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 showed no signs of weakening in warm and humid conditions. We noticed a clustered case occurring in a public bath center with high temperature and humidity. A total of 8 individuals who used or worked in the bath center experienced symptoms within 6 to 9 days of their visit to the center, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 could spread and cause infection in such an environment. The transmission routes may also be respiratory droplets or contact, but our results suggest that the cluster transmission of SARS-CoV-2 can still arise in an environment with high temperature and humidity. These results provide a potential epidemiological clue for this novel coronavirus. This study was limited by a lack of detail regarding the transmission routes of the patients in the bath center.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest InBangkok

Those infected must have been close to an infected person who either touched them, sneezed or coughed nearby. There seems to be no evidence that swimming alone in a properly maintained pool exposes you to the virus. I assume that provided you wash your hands thoroughly with soap or use a hand sanitiser before and after there would be no problem.

 

Quote

There is no evidence that the Coronavirus Disease 2019, COVID-19, can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs, states the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But there is a caveat: “Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.”

 

 https://baptisthealth.net/baptist-health-news/can-covid-19-spread-via-swimming-pools/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It had came to a point that u really don't want to know how it can be transmitted,  every now and then u will have some research coming out to tell u something different.

 

Pool can be dangerous especially if u r resting and some Olympic swimmers just came in after 20 laps and panting deeply beside  u,  likewise the bench,  the suntan bed,  the lockers, shower knob etc can be dangerous too. 

Edited by lonelyglobe
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Guest

The suggestion that the virus will go away in the warmer weathers came from China; the research to show that the virus can be spread in waters of 25 to 41 °C also came from China. Either way, it just goes to show that anything coming out from the PRCs cannot be trusted. So whatever you hear from them, just take it with an enormous pinch of salt that is so thick that it can make the freshwater lakes salty.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest InBangkok
1 hour ago, lonelyglobe said:

Pool can be dangerous especially if u r resting and some Olympic swimmers just came in after 20 laps and panting deeply beside  u,  likewise the bench,  the suntan bed,  the lockers, shower knob etc can be dangerous too. 

 

I agree, especially in public pools. But I did stress swimming alone. I live in a condo with about 40 units occupied. Hardly anyone goes to the pool. Closing it completely as per government regulations at the hottest time of the year seems harsh if - I stress IF - there were some regulation that only one person has access to the pool area for, say, half an hour and that hands are sanitised before entering and again when leaving. It would be simple to have a booking system and to control.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the fear is that the germs may linger on the surfaces of the spa facilities or in the water droplets in the air. Open air pools in bright sunshine would be less risky I hope.... the important thing is to maintain the social distancing and be socially responsible 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If Covid-19 survives in a hot water pool does not bother me.  One does not need to frequent such pools, which are not very healthy. 

 

I'm more concerned about the other extreme, cold temperatures.

I am reading that a similar corona virus can survive "for two years in the freezer" !!

 

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2020/03/19/How-long-can-coronaviruses-survive-in-a-freezer-Up-to-two-years-warns-expert

 

I don't know how trustworthy this expert in the article is,  and I cannot find much information elsewhere.

I am concerned about my ice cream.  Not that I eat it with my dirty hands,  but any other frozen food is normally eaten after it is cooked.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Try and see
On 4/1/2020 at 10:46 AM, Guest InBangkok said:

Those infected must have been close to an infected person who either touched them, sneezed or coughed nearby. There seems to be no evidence that swimming alone in a properly maintained pool exposes you to the virus. I assume that provided you wash your hands thoroughly with soap or use a hand sanitiser before and after there would be no problem.

 

I fully agree. It's not the pool water that spreads the virus. It's the close proximity with an infected person's droplets.

 

If you go to a very hot sauna, and an infected person coughs and sneezes, everyone will get infected. It doesn't mean that in a hot environment we can throw caution to the wind and ignore hygiene standards.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Try and see
On 4/1/2020 at 12:35 PM, Guest Guest said:

Either way, it just goes to show that anything coming out from the PRCs cannot be trusted. So whatever you hear from them, just take it with an enormous pinch of salt that is so thick that it can make the freshwater lakes salty.  

 

Yeah, man. Once bitten, twice shy.

 

As late as 14 Jan 2020, the WHO (acting on China's instructions) was still saying that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of Covid19. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Guest Try and see said:

 

Yeah, man. Once bitten, twice shy.

 

As late as 14 Jan 2020, the WHO (acting on China's instructions) was still saying that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of Covid19. 

 

And here in the US, as of one week ago the Governor or a State was not aware that covid-19 can be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers (!!!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Try and see
14 hours ago, Steve5380 said:

 

And here in the US, as of one week ago the Governor or a State was not aware that covid-19 can be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers (!!!)

 

Oh!! I'm sure it wasn't Andrew Cuomo.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

y'all see.. it's simple logic.. u put a piece of raw meat.. any raw meat on the table room temperatures..do u know how fast viruses grows on that piece of meat..?? by the minutes.. each minute goes by the virsues mulitiply by 10s to 100s 

 

now as those who are in the fnb line, we were all taught in food & hygiene classes.. what the best kind of environement for viruses to grow..??

 

0°c - 60°c.

 

now for virsus to spread in a pool of water .. its simple.. think of a swimming pool.. everyone loves a swimming pool.. all u need is one.. just 1 simple joker.. go inside the pool water & pee.. wow.. u think the chlorine will kill the viruses..?? wrong!!! it's a cesspool of virus people..  not rocket science.. 

 

and now doctors & scientists in the world is telling u... the corona virus lingers up to 4 metres in the air (3ft) and stays twice the timing as it used to in the air.. now.. if an infected patient steps outdoor and sneezes .. wind blows.. any direction.. remember the rule.. 4m distance & twice the time lingering in the air.. singapore is a humid country.. so.. go out, u dun wear face mask.. what would happen..??

 

think u geniuses out there..  simple maths.. u die, he dies, everyone die..  

Edited by single42
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Guest

Coronavirus can survive long exposure to high temperature

 

Professor Remi Charrel and colleagues at the Aix-Marseille University in southern France heated the virus that causes Covid-19 to 60 degrees Celsius (140 Fahrenheit) for an hour and found that some strains were still able to replicate. The scientists had to bring the temperature to almost boiling point to kill the virus completely, according to their non-peer-reviewed paper released on bioRxiv.org on Saturday. 

 

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-survive-long-exposure-high-075328125.html

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...
Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...