According to epidemiologist, Professor David Heymann, putting infected hamsters on a plane could reveal whether the coronavirus can spread through the aircraft's ventilation system.
The use of animals in clinical studies to determine the potential spread of illnesses is an approach previously applied for tuberculosis research.
Talking at a Chatham House briefing on Wednesday, July 8, Professor Heymann discussed that "epidemiological indicators" in some countries did not point to a heightened risk for transmission if the virus was indeed airborne.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said yesterday that there is emerging evidence that the coronavirus could spread through air particles. This review came after more than 200 scientists from around the world called on the WHO to consider the possibility of the virus's airborne transmission.
Current guidelines from the agency claim that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is spread through droplets expelled by an infected person. Their precautions to avoid such infectious droplets include social distancing and frequent hand washing.
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Hamster Studies for Verification of Potential COVID-19 Airborne Transmission
According to Professor Heymann, one of the ways to determine if a virus is transmitted through airborne particles is to place an animal in high-risk places such as hospital rooms and airplanes.
If the animal ends up being infected with the virus, then airborne transmission is possible. He says that it could be done with hamsters, and it was previously done with guinea pigs in tuberculosis studies.
Professor Heymann continues that observation will give us information on whether or not people are getting infected on airplanes and restaurants, especially now that some economies have started to open again.
He says that collecting evidence over time and doing experiments on rodents, rather than humans, might be a way of obtaining an answer to this. However, he says that complex studies still need to be developed to understand further how the virus truly spreads.
The Implications of COVID-19's Airborne Transmission
When asked if there was any evidence of airborne transmission with the coronavirus beyond theoretical studies, Professor Heymann said there was. He said that there is some "anecdotal evidence" of people becoming infected in a restaurant in China despite practicing proper social distancing.
He says one of the speculations is that the virus might have spread through the air conditioning unit. He believes there is a possibility of the unit picking up an aerosol, and spitting it back out to circulate within the room.
Furthermore, the signatories of the open letter published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases called on health administrators to include measures to reduce airborne transmission risk. They suggested providing sufficient ventilation and avoiding overcrowding in cramped places, particularly on public transportation.
Professor Heymann also cautioned that if the coronavirus were airborne, people's eyes would need protection as they serve as a vulnerable entry point for the virus. He also warned people not to consider wearing a face mask as protecting them from any type of infection outdoors.
Protection could only be obtained by wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE), he added.
