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Did you know? 50% of the spread of the new coronavirus comes from asymptomatic carriers!
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to progress, the role of asymptomatic carriers has gradually attracted the attention of public health experts around the world. According to research, asymptomatic carriers account for about 50% of the spread of the new coronavirus. This alarming data not only changes our understanding of the epidemic, but also makes us rethink how to deal with the spread of this infectious disease.
Although asymptomatic carriers have no obvious symptoms of infection, they may become the main source of virus transmission.
Asymptomatic carriers are people who have been infected with the pathogen but do not show any symptoms. The existence of such individuals is a double-edged sword for public health because they can spread pathogens to others without being aware of the disease. In this pandemic, asymptomaticity explains why some areas have experienced unusually severe outbreaks, as many people are infected with the virus without feeling sick.
At least 50% of SARS-CoV-2 infections result from contact with asymptomatic carriers.
However, asymptomatic carriers are not a unique feature of the new coronavirus. Throughout the history of infectious diseases, many pathogens can be spread without causing symptoms. For example, typhoid fever, AIDS, and tuberculosis all have asymptomatic carriers. As we learn about these asymptomatic carriers, we also learn that their importance cannot be overstated. Public health strategies must take into account the potential impact of these asymptomatic carriers of infectious diseases.
Types of asymptomatic carriers
Asymptomatic carriers can be categorized based on their disease status. Those who spread the pathogen immediately after infection but have not yet developed symptoms are called latent spreaders, while those who can still spread the pathogen after experiencing the disease are called recovered carriers. Healthy carriers who show no symptoms are typical asymptomatic carriers. Their presence undoubtedly increases the complexity of public health management.
Importance of disease transmissionThe lack of knowledge about the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers poses a significant obstacle to public health initiatives. Disease surveillance relies on estimating asymptomatic and symptomatic cases, and the lack of data on asymptomatic carriers will make it impossible to effectively implement corresponding measures. Experts hope to be able to more accurately predict transmission patterns in order to develop appropriate public health responses.
Some diseases have low asymptomatic rates, which may lead surveillance agencies to increase their focus on symptomatic cases.
For example, in a disease with relatively few asymptomatic carriers, infectious disease experts may focus on surveillance for symptomatic cases; whereas in a disease with relatively many asymptomatic carriers, more aggressive measures may be needed, such as Travel bans and mandatory quarantines, as the number of asymptomatic cases is often unforeseen.
Mechanisms of asymptomatic carriers
Although the specific mechanism of asymptomatic carriage is still unknown, researchers are actively exploring the possibility of how certain pathogens lurk in the human body. The study of Salmonella is particularly important. Researchers have found that Salmonella can survive in immune cells and change their metabolic system, which enables it to spread the disease more effectively. By creating a mouse model, scientists were able to simulate cases of persistent Salmonella and gain insight into how it survives in the host.
Another example of concern is asymptomatic urinary tract infection, especially in women, which affects approximately 3-5% of women. Such infections are in many cases caused by a variety of bacteria that are able to remain asymptomatic in the host.
With continued public health efforts and the advancement of scientific research, our understanding of asymptomatic pathogen carriers is growing. However, the question remains: How should we initiate more effective prevention and control measures in the face of this potential threat that is not yet fully understood?
