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Hidden danger: How do asymptomatic infected people become the source of virus spread?
During the COVID-19 epidemic, the existence of asymptomatic infections has once again made us understand the complexity of virus transmission. Many infected people are unaware of it, but they may become the main contributors to the spread of the epidemic. Many studies have shown that although about one-third of infected people do not show any symptoms, they still have the ability to spread the virus, which makes people begin to question: What can we rely on to protect against this potential health threat?
At least one-third of those infected never develop noticeable symptoms.
The spread of the new coronavirus mainly relies on respiratory droplets, but asymptomatic infections seem to make epidemic prevention measures more difficult. Not only are these people difficult to detect, they may also come into close contact with others without realizing it, further accelerating the spread of the virus. In many social epidemic prevention practices, the tracking of close contacts must take into account these asymptomatic infections, otherwise the spread of the epidemic will not be effectively controlled.
In the early stages of infection, there is usually an incubation period. During this period, although the virus has entered the body, no symptoms may appear immediately. It has been observed that most people develop symptoms four to five days after exposure, and approximately 77% of symptomatic infections develop at least one symptom within 12 days. However, asymptomatic infected people may never develop any visible symptoms, which is what makes them dangerous.
These infected people often do not seek testing and can still spread the disease.
According to expert analysis, with the accumulation of epidemic experience over the years, the scientific community has gradually deepened its understanding of asymptomatic infection. Whether it is the emergence of the Delta variant or Omicron, the proportion of asymptomatic infections has changed, but their ability to spread is still worrying. In the Omicron variant, the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. Some people may not take it seriously and even doubt whether they are infected. In fact, driven by asymptomatic infections, the overall social epidemic prevention effect is threatened.
Studies have shown that even asymptomatic people are at risk of infecting others. This problem exposes the fragility of epidemic prevention work, especially in public places such as offices and schools where there is limited contact. Therefore, encouraging testing and vaccination and maintaining good hygiene habits are necessary measures to fight the virus.
Long-term observations have found that asymptomatic infected people may have the ability to spread the virus during the incubation period.
In addition, the existence of asymptomatic infections has also triggered research on long-term consequences. Many people who have been infected with COVID-19 still show a variety of discomfort symptoms in the later stages. This long-term symptom condition is also known as " Long epidemic". Persistent symptoms may include fatigue, loss of smell, and cognitive impairment, which has made many societies gradually realize the other side of the impact of the epidemic. In the future, how to ensure that vaccination can prevent deep infection in society even in asymptomatic cases is a common challenge for all mankind.
But to what extent can asymptomatic infections affect the direction of the epidemic? This issue not only involves the study of epidemiology, but also raises a question worthy of everyone’s consideration: How can we maintain effective epidemic prevention strategies in the absence of sufficient knowledge?
