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COVID-19 transmission — An absence of data

Professor Robin Wood is conducting internationally ground-breaking research into infectious disease transmission at the Aerobiology and TB Research Unit, University of Cape Town, an area in which the global response to transmission has been confused and lacking data. Wood has been (correctly) warning against aerial transmission from the start: medical professionals will have an opportunity to learn more on this key topic during a PPS Webinar on 28 July.

An important area of COVID-19 revolves around fomite transmission by direct transfer from surfaces versus airborne transmission via large particles versus small particle transmission. But research and technologies related to transmission are poor globally.

Findings from the Aerobiology and TB Research Unit, which Wood founded and directs, will help to bring doctors and health professionals up to speed on his and other research and developments worldwide in this key area of COVID-19 prevention.

Titled COVID-19 transmission – An absence of data, this will be the third in a webinar series hosted by PPS – Health Professions IndemnityMedicalBrief and UCT’s Desmond Tutu Health Foundation. The webinar will be moderated by MedicalBrief Managing Editor William Saunderson-Meyer. It carries one clinical CPD point.

Wood will present for half an hour, after which he will answer questions. However, participants are encouraged where possible to send ahead of time any questions they would like Professor Wood to address. Send to: janice@wmgmedia.co.za.

The webinar will be held from 18.00 to 19.00 on Tuesday 28 July 2020.

 

[link url="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_61nvdTmsSWSWyAM79rdKNQ"]Click to register for the PPS MedicalBrief webinar with Professor Robin Wood[/link]

 

Professor Robin Wood

Professor Robin Wood is director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and a member of the University of Cape Town’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, where he heads the scientific research group of the Medical Research Council-UCT flagship programme investigating the aerobiology of tuberculosis transmission.

Previously a National Research Foundation A-rated scientist, he currently a Visiting Scientist at Harvard Medical School and an Honorary Professor of the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Wood has served on numerous international scientific advisory boards including the United States Presidents Emergency Program for AIDS Relief, the World Health Organization, the International AIDS Society, the International Partnership for Microbicides, AERAS TB Vaccine initiative, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Aerobiology and TB Research Unit

South Africa has among the highest tuberculosis rates in the world, particularly in high density populated areas.

The Aerobiology and TB Research Unit at the Masiphumelele Research Centre seeks to understand the biology of the airborne transmission of TB from one person to the other, and to provide new information to help improve TB control strategies and to encourage greater emphasis on the prevention of TB transmission at community level.

According to the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation website: The Aerobiology and TB Research Unit is actively engaged in research at laboratory, clinical and public health levels to increase understanding of the TB epidemic and to seek solutions to this overwhelming health problem facing South Africans.

Developed in late 2013 with funding from the South African Medical Research Council and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this multidisciplinary project focuses on understanding TB transmission. It is designed to investigate the source of TB infection. Attention is given to the social network and environmental conditions that allow for sufficient exchange of air between an infected person and a new host.

The research team observes and measures the concentration of aerosolised mycobacterium particles within breath that is expelled from infectious TB patients. They also explore organism adaptation to particle size and environmental stress. Creative efforts are required to sample, investigate and understand airborne biological components.

The webinar series

The PPS Webinar series, in partnership with MedicalBrief and the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, features five webinars drawing on the infectious diseases research and expertise of Professor Robin Wood.

Launching on 19 June, the webinars have been successful and pertinent to the hundreds of medical professionals who attend. Two of the PPS Webinars have been held, and next week’s is the third. Here is a brief description of future webinar topics:

COVID-19 models – Fatally flawed? Models have been developed to predict, among other aspects, COVID-19 infection and death rates. Models have dramatically influenced the behaviour of officials, policy-makers and people, but have also been widely criticised for inaccuracy. People bought into flawed models, Wood says, “because we didn’t have anything else”. He will highlight ludicrous decision-making, some limitations of models and the need for their calibration.

Historical precedent – The need for perspective: “Study the past, if you would divine the future,” Confucius said. Robin Wood has experienced three pandemics in his lifetime: Asian flu, HIV-Aids and SARS. What lessons may be learned from history, that can inform efforts to overcome COVID-19?

 

[link url="https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_61nvdTmsSWSWyAM79rdKNQ"]Click to register for the PPS MedicalBrief webinar with Professor Robin Wood[/link]

 

 

 

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