Aerosols can spread over long distances, sometimes beyond what is normally thought of. The World Health Organization has stated that viruses or bacteria can be spread by aerosols over long distances and cause widespread infection in a short period of time, often up to tens or even hundreds of meters, far exceeding the distance of droplet transmission. Evidence from studies of equine influenza transmission in Queensland, Australia, involving 437 horse farms, shows that the average distance of equine influenza transmission can reach 1 km, with the farthest reaching 13 km. This increases the risk of non-contact transmission. Some scholars have found evidence of aerosol transmission routes for SARS and H1N1 viruses. Some believe that there is an aerosol transmission route for the novel coronavirus outbreak in 2020. However, the “Diagnostic and Treatment Protocol for Novel Coronavirus Infection Pneumonia (Trial Version 5)” states that the aerosol and GI routes of transmission have yet to be defined and cannot be definitively ruled out at this time. Even if the virus can be transmitted over long distances through aerosols, do not worry excessively, as the concentration of the virus gradually decreases with increasing distance, so do not be overly panicked, try to reduce or not to go to the infected area, and reduce the possibility of exposure to aerosols containing high concentrations of virus, which can reduce the possibility of infection. Content source: Dr. You Lai