Sustained Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Within Schools. COVID-19 Contributed to the 2022 Surge of Severe Pediatric RSV. Children Need Our Protection
Sustained Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Within Schools. COVID-19 Contributed to the 2022 Surge of Severe Pediatric RSV. Children Need Our Protection
Co-infections Happen More Than We Realize and Are More Severe.
"These data provide evidence that COVID-19 contributed to the 2022 surge of severe pediatric RSV cases."
Published May 16, 2023, the study assessed whether COVID-19 contributed to the surge in pediatric RSV cases, they leveraged real-time nation-wide US database of electronic health records (EHRs) using time series analysis from January 1, 2010 through January 31, 2023. They found that in November 2022, there was a record increase of 143% compared to expected peak rate.
COVID weakens the immune systems of children which increases the odds of severe RSV. If COVID contributes to severe RSV, then it contributes to severe flu, pneumonia, strep and other infections.
This is exactly what the cumulative data has been telling us. Why aren't we doing anything to protect the children and our collective future?
The base level of COVID infections has remained at unsustainable levels. Reinfections increase risks, particularly with more immune evasive and suppressive variants.
Life expectancy is falling as expected, and more will suffer with persistent infections and long-term disability.
We will review a new study showing sustained airborne transmission in schools and how much masks and air cleaning impacted transmission. We highlight studies showing that flu and COVID are airborne in elementary schools. We have quite a few studies showing that coinfections are more severe. We will review the data on how COVID weakens the immune system and how it may lead to serious damage to children’s immune systems. Lets dig into the latest science and data.
Free subscribers will receive an email when the post is available to everyone.
COVID Weakens the Immune System
Antibodies serve as an important layer of defense, and COVID has learned to evade that layer. That means the burden of defending our bodies falls on T-cells, the thymus, and the lymphatic system.
We already have studies showing how COVID can infect CD-4 T-cells, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, so the question of whether or not COVID can weaken the immune system by depleting these cells has been answered.
We know that COVID has been listed as one of the leading causes of Lymphocytopenia. "People with lymphocytopenia experience recurrent infections or develop infections with unusual organisms & it is a risk factor for the development of cancers & for autoimmune disorders."
A peer-reviewed study, "Immune cell dysregulation is a driver of COVID severity," noted a "decreased total conventional DC (cDC), conventional type 2 DC (DC2), and plasmacytoid DC (pDC). CyTOF also showed lymphopenia of CD4 and CD8 T cell populations."
COVID impacts everyone’s immune system to varying degrees. Some people recover faster than others, but it can take weeks to more than eight months to recover.
The thymus gland is like the heart of the immune system. It is a gland that produces naive T cells until puberty. The thymus starts decreasing in size after puberty. It gets replaced by fatty tissue over the years, so that by the age of 65 it is almost non-existent. When thymic function decreases and eventually stops, the T-cell base is aged, and the copies are worn out or exhausted, it becomes more difficult to defend against infection and increases the likelihood of inflammation, auto-immune disorders, vascular dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, cancer, and many other problems.
The key point for children is that the thymus makes the naive T cells that serve as the reservoir or foundation for the body to replicate for the rest of adulthood. If the virus infiltrates the thymus without antibodies to stop it, the damage could limit the number of naive T-cells. The naive T-cell pool could be smaller, resulting in poorer health earlier in life and a shorter life span.
COVID has been shown to infect and potentially damage the thymus. We will go over this in more detail below. This can happen with other viruses, but COVID is different because it is very contagious, changes very quickly because it is spread so widely, and infects children over and over again in short amounts of time. That means that children have less time to recover function of the thymus and make the naive T-cells they need prior to puberty.
Damage to the thymus at any age is equivalent to subtracting years from our lives, but for younger children, this damage could be costing them decades of their lives and reducing their quality of life in their 30s, 40s, or 50s instead of their 60s, 70s, or 80s.
"SARS-CoV-2 can directly target the thymus and alter gene expression profile of thymic epithelium."
Read more on how COVID can infect the thymus and how it may cause irreversible damage to the immune system in younger children.
Co-Infections
(COVID + Flu or COVID + RSV or COVID + Norovirus or a Combination of Viruses and Bacteria)
Coinfections pose an even greater threat. When the immune system is weakened during and after a COVID infection, it becomes susceptible to other viruses and bacteria. These opportunistic pathogens seize the chance to attack while the body is actively fighting COVID.
Maintaining utmost caution in the weeks following a COVID infection is crucial as the immune system recovers. However, this becomes challenging when individuals are unaware of their infection status and when general precautions are lacking. That's why it is of utmost importance to prevent infections by enhancing ventilation and air filtration systems.
By prioritizing increased ventilation and air filtration, we can minimize the risk of coinfections and bolster the recovery process. Taking these proactive measures ensures a safer environment, not only for those recovering from COVID but for everyone, as we strive to protect our health and well-being. Let's remain vigilant in preventing infections and prioritize the health of our communities.
Below are some quotes from different studies highlighting the dangers of co-infections.
Flu + COVID = ↗️ Risk of Severe Pneumonia & Lung Damage
"Coinfections not only prolonged the primary virus infection but also increased immune cell infiltration and inflammatory cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid leading to severe pneumonia & lung damage."
High mortality (11%) was observed with COVID-19/TB co-infection associated with older age, male gender and invasive ventilation. Efforts to avoid SARS-CoV-2 infection in TB patients are recommended to prevent excess morbidity and mortality.
Flu + COVID = Severe Lymphopenia= Increased Susceptibility to All Pathogens.
"Coinfections caused severe lymphopenia in peripheral blood, resulting in reduced total IgG, neutralizing antibody titers,& CD4+ T cell responses against each virus."
"Existing evidence suggests that co-infection with influenza might be associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk for ICU admission and for mechanical ventilation among COVID-19 patients"
Airborne Transmission of COVID and Flu Within Schools
We have multiple airborne viruses combined with the most contagious & immune evasive/suppressive COVID variants to date, all spreading without any mitigation protection in schools.
"Our results provide evidence that influenza virus may spread through the airborne route."
Airborne Influenza A Exposure in an Elementary School
"The first identification and quantification of airborne influenza in an elementary school. Airborne influenza has the potential to circulate in schools during influenza season causing infection."
"Uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 transmission at school could disrupt the regular conduct of teaching activities, likely seeding the transmission into other settings"
The larger the number of infectious children exhaling aerosolized respiratory droplets into a classroom, the faster the prevalence builds in the air.
Increased Viral Prevalence = Increased Risk of Infections/Coinfections = Faster Transmission.
The Greater the Viral Load/Exposure = Increased Risk of Severe Symptoms, Persistent Infections and Long COVID
Sustained Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Within Schools
A study published May 16, 2023, conducted in Switzerland offers valuable insights into the transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in schools, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
The study findings reveal alarming evidence of sustained airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within schools. Molecular analysis confirms the presence of the virus in aerosols and saliva samples, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures. According to the study, when it comes to reducing aerosol concentrations and curbing transmission, mask mandates surpass the effectiveness of air cleaners. With universal mask use in place, aerosol concentrations were 70% lower and using air cleaners lowered concentrations 40% on average. This underscores the urgent importance of implementing the use of quality N-95 type masks to protect students, teachers, and parents from COVID-19 transmission within school premises until we upgrade air filtration and ventilation to a level that effectively mitigates transmission.
"Our results support universal masking as an important strategy for reducing Covid-19 incidence in schools and loss of in-person school days."
The single most important thing we could do to protect our teachers, children, parents and all of society is to upgrade the ventilation and filtration in schools. Installing HEPA filters, and automating the system to maintain CO2 at or below 600 ppm, would significantly reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, along with Influenza, RSV, and other airborne pathogens.
The experts often claim that maintaining the CO2 level below 1,000 ppm or below 800 ppm uses to much energy but that simply isn’t moving in fresh air fast enough to significantly limit transmission of COVID. If we can find the energy for mining Bitcoin, AI and everything else, then we can prioritize the health and safety of children in schools.
Clean Air for Kids
Investing in clean air technology will save lives.
It's simple: by investing in clean air in schools, workplaces, restaurants, and other public places, we save lives while also preventing all of the associated health and economic problems that arise when an infection occurs, as well as long-term damage that may not be visible for years or decades. Consider how chickenpox goes dormant, only to reappear when the immune system is compromised, usually decades later as shingles. Many of the health problems we face as we age are caused by infections. Consider how many days children would stay in school instead of sitting at home sick, and how many days parents and other workers stay productive instead of dragging and making others sick or calling out to be with their children. This adds up to significant savings, making the decision to invest in improving air quality an easy one.
We have an opportunity to use the cumulative science, data, and technology to provide a healthier future for our children and future generations, but we must invest the resources necessary to make this happen. This won’t happen without advocacy. Learn more and help support the Clean Air for Kids campaign.
T.A.C.T. is reporting the latest science, data, and analysis in order to achieve a sustainable path forward.
T.A.C.T. is a reader-supported publication. If you are not already a member of the T.A.C.T. community, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber to receive the latest updates and help support this work.
Let us know what you're seeing or experiencing where you are or any other insights you may have.
Thank you. Alas, our society places little value on the lives of children. They produce nothing and they spend nothing.
The number one cause of death for children in the usa - guns. We have no laws to protect children from guns. Guns have more value than the life of a child.
We will never protect children from viruses in the air that we cannot see.