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Spread of SARS-CoV-2 aerosols via two connected drainage stacks in a high-rise housing outbreak of COVID-19.
Wang, Qun; Lin, Zhang; Niu, Jianlei; Choi, Garnet Kwan-Yue; Fung, Jimmy C H; Lau, Alexis K H; Louie, Peter; Leung, Kenneth K M; Huang, Jianxiang; Cheng, Pan; Zhao, Pengcheng; Chen, Wenzhao; Zhang, Sheng; Fu, Liye; Chan, P W; Wong, Ann Han; Tse, Herman; Wong, Sally Cheuk Ying; Lai, Raymond Wai Man; Hui, David Sc; Yuen, Kwok-Yung; Lung, David Christopher; Li, Yuguo.
  • Wang Q; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lin Z; Division of Building Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Niu J; Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
  • Choi GK; Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
  • Fung JCH; Division of Environment & Sustainability, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lau AKH; Division of Environment & Sustainability, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China.
  • Louie P; Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China.
  • Leung KKM; Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong SAR Government, Hong Kong, China.
  • Huang J; Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Cheng P; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Zhao P; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Chen W; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Zhang S; Division of Building Science and Technology, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Fu L; Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
  • Chan PW; Hong Kong Observatory, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
  • Wong AH; Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
  • Tse H; Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
  • Wong SCY; Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lai RWM; Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
  • Hui DS; Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Yuen KY; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
  • Lung DC; Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Children's Hospital, Hong Kong, China; Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: lungdc@ha.org.hk.
  • Li Y; Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: liyg@hku.hk.
J Hazard Mater ; 430: 128475, 2022 05 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1676810
ABSTRACT
Vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) along a vertical column of flats has been documented in several outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Guangdong and Hong Kong. We describe an outbreak in Luk Chuen House, involving two vertical columns of flats associated with an unusually connected two-stack drainage system, in which nine individuals from seven households were infected. The index case resided in Flat 812 (8th floor, Unit 12), two flats (813, 817) on its opposite side reported one case each (i.e., a horizontal sub-cluster). All other flats with infected residents were vertically associated, forming a vertical sub-cluster. We injected tracer gas (SF6) into drainage stacks via toilet or balcony of Flat 812, monitored gas concentrations in roof vent, toilet, façade, and living room in four of the seven flats with infected residents and four flats with no infected residents. The measured gas concentration distributions agreed with the observed distribution of affected flats. Aerosols leaking into drainage stacks may generate the vertical sub-cluster, whereas airflow across the corridor probably caused the horizontal sub-cluster. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses also revealed a common point-source. The findings provided additional evidence of probable roles of drainage systems in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Hazard Mater Journal subject: Environmental Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jhazmat.2022.128475

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Humans Language: English Journal: J Hazard Mater Journal subject: Environmental Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.jhazmat.2022.128475