Corona transmission possible before the first symptoms? Researchers provide sobering insights

It has so far been unclear whether an infected person can also transmit the coronavirus before showing the first symptoms. German scientists have now found out. 

• When it comes to containing the corona pandemic , it matters whether people are contagious before they show symptoms .
• German researchers have now answered this question in a study. The findings are sobering. 
• Here you will find the basic facts about the corona virus * and the corona news from Germany. We also offer you the current number of cases in Germany * on a map. The following recommendations for Corona protective measures * are currently available.

Munich / Berlin - Are corona infected people already contagious , although they still show no symptoms ? This question is of great importance for containing the pandemic. If a transmission of the coronavirus * to other people is possible before symptoms are shown, this could make the containment of the pandemic considerably more difficult. A German study has now dealt with this question.

Coronavirus transmission possible even before the first symptoms appear

Four months after the first corona cases in Germany, scientists analyzed the contagion chains of the first group of patients in detail. The result: The study confirms that infected people can be contagious even before the first symptoms appear . Researchers from the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Berlin Charité examined the first Corona cases in Germany in connection with the car supplier Webasto as part of the study . The study has now been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases . 

New research Article: Investigation of a # COVID19 outbreak in Germany resulting from a single travel-associated primary case: a case series https://t.co/Vv25apBM2M pic.twitter.com/G8l5T9q24X

The authors reported that in at least one of a total of 16 cases analyzed a virus passed on infected have, before he had symptoms . This may have been the case in five other cases. In addition, in at least four cases, an infected infected other people on the day the symptoms * were just beginning. Five further cases could fall within this period, the researchers write. 

Corona virus containment may be difficult to achieve

What the team concluded from the findings of the study: For health measures, it was a huge challenge that the infectivity was significant before symptoms started or shortly afterwards . In addition, the incubation period * was often very short. The average was four days. " Global containment of Covid-19 could be difficult to achieve ," is the sobering conclusion of the scientists. 

Jan Rybniker and Gerd Fätkenheuer from Cologne University Hospital also underline this in a comment in the specialist journal: “This fits with other results that estimate the frequency of presymptomatic transmission to up to half of all infections. This is one of the most serious obstacles to controlling the pandemic, ”the article said. The two researchers also emphasize that in the event of a larger spread, traditional tracking of contacts is no longer sufficient. "Therefore, new technologies such as contact tracking apps are urgently needed to effectively control the pandemic," say the Cologne experts. 

By the way: You can find more information on the planned anti-corona app from the German government in the video below.

It is unclear whether the corona virus is also transmitted by touching surfaces

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported somewhat less negative news . According to their information is not yet known , whether people when touching door handles , grab handles or computer keyboards with SARS-CoV-2 can infect . Nevertheless, disinfection * is recommended , emphasizes a WHO hygiene recommendation published in Geneva on Saturday. It mentions a study that says the virus can survive up to seven days on the outside of a medical face mask. 

However, all studies on the viability of the coronavirus should be treated with caution. According to the WHO, they were carried out in laboratories and thus did not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the real world. So far, no study has shown contagions * with the coronavirus by touching surfaces , but this cannot be ruled out based on experience with other coronaviruses. 

* Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen-Digital editors network.