Advances on presymptomatic or asymptomatic carrier transmission of COVID-19
10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20200228-00207
- VernacularTitle: 新型冠状病毒肺炎潜伏期或隐性感染者传播研究进展
- Author:
Wenjing GAO
1
;
Liming LI
1
Author Information
1. School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Presymptomatic transmission;
Asymptomatic transmission;
Source of infection;
COVID-19;
2019-nCoV
- From:
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology
2020;41(0):485-488
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
COVID-19 is rapidly spreading. Patients in incubation period and healthy carriers are possible sources for transmission. However, such sources of infection cannot be effectively identified due to the symptoms absent. The research evidence is very lacking so far, although there are a few studies suggesting that presymptomatic or asymptomatic carrier may cause COVID-19 transmission. Nearly half of the literature is in the state of preprint without peer review. The question of "the degree to which presymptomatic or asymptomatic infections can transmit" is not fully understood. There is an urgent need to screen infected carriers in larger close contacts or in the general population, and assess their risk for transmission.
