Dödligt virus från Kina orsakar panik (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19)

The investigators of the study, which was published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, examined the 7 coronaviruses known to infect humans, focusing on the 4 that cause severe respiratory infections.

All 4 of those were found to be highly seasonal. While the findings don’t have direct bearing on whether or not the novel SARS-CoV-2 is likewise affected by the changing of seasons, the investigators say they hope their study will provide valuable context.

“Even though the seasonal coronaviruses found in Michigan are related to SARS-CoV-2, we do not know whether that virus will behave like the seasonal coronaviruses," wrote Arnold Monto, MD, a professor of epidemiology at the university’s school of public health, and colleagues.
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“Combined over the 8 years, the number of identifications for each virus increased in December, peaked in January or February, and began to decrease in March,” Monto and colleagues wrote.

“The seasonal similarity between the 4 types is striking, with only the peak aggregate month differing between January and February.”

The investigators noted that the coronaviruses’ seasonality was more predictable than that of influenza, since flu season can peak at different times of the winter months from year to year.

Lower humidity allowed the virus to stay airborne for longer, increasing the potential for exposure, said Professor Michael Ward, a zoonotic disease expert at the University of Sydney who led the peer-reviewed study. High humidity caused the virus to fall to the ground quicker, he said.

Regeringen har skjutit till en miljard kronor för att öka smittspårningen av covid-19. Men flera regioner har inte kapacitet att aktivt smittspåra visar en kartläggning som SVT Nyheter har gjort.
– Vi riskerar att få en andra våg om vi inte har en effektiv smittspårning, säger Niklas Arnberg, professor i virologi.