Research Reveals Potent 'Weapon' Against Viruses, Including COVID-19

Staff Reporter, Tech Times 02 June 2020, 08:06 am

With the rising COVID-19 cases and death toll worldwide, how long will the world wait until the deadly virus is completely contained? A new study reveals that humidity levels can be a potent "weapon" to stop the transmission of airborne viruses, Newsweek reported.

Fear, pain, and solitude are the three characteristics that COVID-19 survivors can recall during their experience of dealing with the disease. In a landmark report on The Japan Times, patients shared how they became their worst fears while inside the hospital wards, where they were admitted while being treated for the virus.

Even Healthy People Can Be Infected

Park Hyun, a 47-year-old engineering professor from South Korea, taught he would be immune to this virus because of having no health conditions that would make him vulnerable, but at the end of the spectrum, he still developed symptoms and was admitted to Busan's intensive care unit.

The symptoms -- sore throat and cough -- worsened, and Park Hyun said he even fainted while waiting for the test results. He had no choice but to agree to the medical units, and be admitted for treatment. He said, "It was like a roller coaster."

He was only among thousands to millions of people around the world dealing with the disease. Many of whom have already died, while others have survived. But the challenges are always present, including patients denied in hospitals either because of lack of medical resources or history of past illnesses.

Can there be a potent weapon against the disease? The vaccine that is believed to protect individuals from catching the virus is still in the works. However, there are reports circulating that sufficient air moisture levels indoors can mitigate the spread of the virus.

Experts say that this may have benefits and may offer itself as a powerful tool against the pandemic, but for the very short-term. Harvard Medical School lecturer Dr. Stephanie Taylor narrates.

"Transmission is greater in dry air, infectivity is higher in dry air, and the ability of a human being to fight infection is impaired. Any one of those would be important, but all three of them are in play."

She adds that relative humidity ranges may be convenient for people, and thus may offer a stream of benefits. When air isn't sufficiently hydrated, airborne particles carrying viruses travel farther. Does this mean that there are more chances of spread in areas where the climate is drier?

A prior study was done related to humidity, temperature levels, and influenza strains. It concluded that higher levels of humidity create an environment where viruses will find it difficult to survive. In other words, in colder regions.

Hydration Roles

Hydration is extremely important in combating the disease, protecting yourself from getting the virus, or recovering. It will go down to the mucus membranes, to your skin and eyes.

Canada is one of the countries singled out in the report that has a climate that proves a challenge for researchers and ordinary people who want to uncover possible weapons to curb the spread of the virus or, finally, eradicate COVID-19.