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New Delhi : The main factor by which coronavirus is transmitted from an infected to a healthy person is through exposure to respiratory droplets.
A new study by scientists used the information to track down coronavirus super-spreaders and other diseases associated with similar symptoms. The research allowed scientists to identify the impact of biological characteristics on how people sneeze.
The results of the study were published in the journal Physics of Fluids, the study mainly focused on how far respiratory droplets can travel when a person sneezes.
According to scientists from the University of Central Florida (UCF), some specific characteristics could cause them to travel further, including a stuffy nose and a full set of teeth.
“Knowing more about the factors that influence the distance these droplets travel can inform efforts to control their spread,” said Michael Kinzel, study co-author and assistant professor in the UCF Department of Mechanical Engineering. “This is the first study that aims to understand the underlying ‘why’ of how far sneezing travel,” he added.
The study determines several factors that affect how far the sneeze droplets travel and stay in the air. These factors are associated with the path from which the sneeze expels and its resulting speed.
A stuffy nose, for example, will cause an increase in the speed and distance of the sneeze droplets traveling according to the study. This is because the stuffy nose would leave the mouth only as an exit for the sneeze, thus increasing its speed. A clear nose would then help as an additional path and lower diffusion.
Likewise, the teeth also limit the exit area of the sneeze and increase the speed of the droplets. Those without teeth can therefore be expected to have a weaker sneeze expulsion.
“The results indicate that when someone keeps their nose clean, for example by blowing it into a handkerchief, it could reduce the distance their germs travel,” a university statement read.
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