A study found close contact between children in classrooms alongside indoor air quality may contribute to the spread of respiratory viruses.
A study has found that the close contact between children in classrooms alongside issues with indoor air quality may contribute to the spread of respiratory viruses such as influenza in the coming months.
While it is known that close contact with others can increase the transmission of certain viruses, the study highlights in greater detail how improving classroom ventilation could have notable impacts in reducing transmission. “Air quality has a big impact on the transmission of respiratory viruses, not only the flu,” Lukas Fenner, a scientist at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and one of the authors of the study, told Newsweek. Why It Matters Influenza is a respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe illness, and in serious cases, even death. It is one of many common viruses that circulate in the winter months, such as norovirus, the ‘winter vomiting virus,’ and more recently COVID. Respiratory syncytial virus is another common respiratory virus, and can be difficult to distinguish from the common cold, flu or COVID, given the overlapping symptoms. For all these respiratory illnesses—flu, RSV and COVID—higher risk groups like infants and older adults can become very sick and require hospitalization so better understanding of virus transmission could improve methods of protecting those more vulnerable to these viruses. Stock image: a teacher speaks to children sat at their desks in school. What To Know The study, published in the journal Nature Communications on November 25 by scientists at the University of Bern, Switzerland, was conducted over six weeks reviewing 67 students aged 14-15 in a Swiss secondary school. The children were within 1.5 meters of each other for 21.2 minutes per day and spent 5.3 hours in shared classrooms. The study authors noted the air quality was “suboptimal” for 1.9 hours. The researchers found that under these conditions, virus transmission was more likely within than between classes. They also noted that they thought “prolonged exposure in shared, poorly ventilated spaces, which potentially includes several infectious sources, drives respiratory virus transmission more than close contact.” Fenner said that “opening windows regularly during breaks will help, but the trade-off with energy saving in cold winters needs to be taken into account.” In the longer term, he said “investments in ventilation and cleaning systems for buildings, as well as investments in innovative designs for building engineering and building air flow systems need to be considered.” “Shared classroom air is a major driver of influenza transmission,” Aubree Gordon, a professor and director of the Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats and Pandemic Preparedness at the University of Michigan, who was not part of the study, told Newsweek. She added that this means “improving ventilation needs to be a priority.” This could be opening windows for even a few minutes at a time, she said, and agreed that upgrading heating ventilation and air conditioning systems could be an “important longer-term solution.” “Improving indoor air quality is one of the most effective and practical steps we can take to protect children from respiratory viruses,” she added. “The benefits extend beyond infection control: better-ventilated classrooms support improved learning, better concentration, and healthier school environments overall.” What People Are Saying Lukas Fenner, a scientist at the University of Bern, Switzerland, and one of the authors of the study, told Newsweek: “Crowded closed spaces substantially contribute to transmission of flu and other respiratory viral diseases in winter. These conditions frequently converge in educational settings, where students experience prolonged interactions in indoor spaces, but also includes workplaces, transportation, and health care facilities. Refocusing on air quality in closed spaces is certainly warranted. In a broader sense, our findings also contribute to pandemic preparedness, including aspects such as air ventilation, air quality, exposure time in enclosed spaces, and contact tracing in closed indoor spaces.” Aubree Gordon, a professor and director of the Michigan Center for Infectious Disease Threats and Pandemic Preparedness at the University of Michigan, told Newsweek: “Children play a key role in influenza transmission because they spend long stretches together in shared indoor spaces and tend to have lower immunity compared to adults, but that doesn’t mean they are the only drivers every winter. Schools can amplify spread, but influenza moves through households and communities as a whole. The study highlights that it’s the environment, especially poorly ventilated rooms, that really accelerates transmission.” Professo...
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