Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Patient Transport Van

Lucas D Jones; Ernest R Chan; Trina F Zabarsky; Jennifer L Cadnum; Maria E Navas; Sarah N Redmond; Jeffrey D Kovach; Marlin Linger; William A Rutala; Peter A Zimmerman; Curtis J Donskey

doi:10.1093/cid/ciab347

Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a Patient Transport Van

Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Jan 29;74(2):339-342. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab347.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
² Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
³ Infection Control Department, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
⁴ Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
⁵ Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
⁶ Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
⁷ The Center for Global Health and Diseases, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
⁸ Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
⁹ Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Abstract

We report 2 episodes of potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission from infected van drivers to passengers despite masking and physical distancing. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed relatedness of driver and passenger SARS-CoV-2. With the heater operating, fluorescent microspheres were transported by airflow >3 meters from the front to the back of the van.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; aerosol; motor vehicle; transmission; ventilation.

Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2021.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Physical Distancing
SARS-CoV-2*
Whole Genome Sequencing

Grants and funding

CX001848/VA/VA/United States