Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible
While successful containment measures of COVID-19 in China and many European countries have led to flattened curves, case numbers are rising dramatically in other countries, with the emergence of a second wave expected. Asymptomatic individuals carrying SARS-CoV-2 are hidden drivers of the pandemic,...
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doaj-8428bbefc39a40a1a41a3937a8d4b23d2020-11-25T02:48:39ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases1201-97122020-11-01100112116Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincibleLea A. Nikolai0Christian G. Meyer1Peter G. Kremsner2Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan3Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, GermanyInstitute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet NamInstitute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Centre de Recherches Medicales de Lambarene, GabonInstitute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany; Vietnamese-German Center for Medical Research, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Faculty of Medicine, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Viet Nam; Corresponding author at: Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Wilhelmstrasse 27, 72074 Tübingen, Germany.While successful containment measures of COVID-19 in China and many European countries have led to flattened curves, case numbers are rising dramatically in other countries, with the emergence of a second wave expected. Asymptomatic individuals carrying SARS-CoV-2 are hidden drivers of the pandemic, and infectivity studies confirm the existence of transmission by asymptomatic individuals. The data addressed here show that characteristics of asymptomatic and presymptomatic infection are not identical. Younger age correlates strongly with asymptomatic and mild infections and children as hidden drivers. The estimated proportion of asymptomatic infections ranges from 18% to 81%. The current perception of asymptomatic infections does not provide clear guidance for public-health measures. Asymptomatic infections will be a key contributor in the spread of COVID-19. Asymptomatic cases should be reported in official COVID-19 statistics.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220307062AsymptomaticPresymptomaticCase definitionCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2Herd immunity |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Lea A. Nikolai Christian G. Meyer Peter G. Kremsner Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan |
spellingShingle |
Lea A. Nikolai Christian G. Meyer Peter G. Kremsner Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible International Journal of Infectious Diseases Asymptomatic Presymptomatic Case definition COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Herd immunity |
author_facet |
Lea A. Nikolai Christian G. Meyer Peter G. Kremsner Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan |
author_sort |
Lea A. Nikolai |
title |
Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible |
title_short |
Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible |
title_full |
Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible |
title_fullStr |
Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible |
title_full_unstemmed |
Asymptomatic SARS Coronavirus 2 infection: Invisible yet invincible |
title_sort |
asymptomatic sars coronavirus 2 infection: invisible yet invincible |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
International Journal of Infectious Diseases |
issn |
1201-9712 |
publishDate |
2020-11-01 |
description |
While successful containment measures of COVID-19 in China and many European countries have led to flattened curves, case numbers are rising dramatically in other countries, with the emergence of a second wave expected. Asymptomatic individuals carrying SARS-CoV-2 are hidden drivers of the pandemic, and infectivity studies confirm the existence of transmission by asymptomatic individuals. The data addressed here show that characteristics of asymptomatic and presymptomatic infection are not identical. Younger age correlates strongly with asymptomatic and mild infections and children as hidden drivers. The estimated proportion of asymptomatic infections ranges from 18% to 81%. The current perception of asymptomatic infections does not provide clear guidance for public-health measures. Asymptomatic infections will be a key contributor in the spread of COVID-19. Asymptomatic cases should be reported in official COVID-19 statistics. |
topic |
Asymptomatic Presymptomatic Case definition COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Herd immunity |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971220307062 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT leaanikolai asymptomaticsarscoronavirus2infectioninvisibleyetinvincible AT christiangmeyer asymptomaticsarscoronavirus2infectioninvisibleyetinvincible AT petergkremsner asymptomaticsarscoronavirus2infectioninvisibleyetinvincible AT thirumalaisamypvelavan asymptomaticsarscoronavirus2infectioninvisibleyetinvincible |
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