Thread by @jljcolorado

It took 40 years to admit TB was airborne. It was thought to be droplet / fomite. Because of ease of infection in close proximity, and cases of shared air w/o infection (same as COVID-19, BTW).

It took 75 yrs for measles.

Let's hope it doesn't take much longer for COVID!

https://twitter.com/DrKatrin_Rabiei/status/1346198797769089024

See here for measles being considered a droplet disease by most public health authorities **in 1985**

Because of ease of infection in close proximity, and cases of shared air w/o infection (same as COVID!).

That didn't end so well, did it?

https://twitter.com/jljcolorado/status/1303078954245320705

In fact, the history of denial of airborne transmission has been the same for all diseases, followed only by begrudging acceptance, long after the evidence because overwhelming. Here a comparison of key characteristics of measles, TB, and COVID-19:

The denial started with Dr. Charles Chapin in 1910, and his book "the Sources and Modes of Infection." He found it convenient to deny airborne transmission, so that people would focus on preventing contact infection.

Highly recommended read: archive.org/details/source…

That denial of airborne became a dogma, and it still reigns supreme at @WHO and other health agencies, with Chapinistas controlling the IPC Committee. Accepted droplet / fomite w/o any evidence, and yet reject airborne despite mountains of evidence.

So... #COVIDisAirborne!