COVID-19
Facts

Can catkins spread novel coronavirus?

chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2020-04-10 06:30
Willow catkins shroud a fruit vendor on Huixin Dongjie in Beijing's Chaoyang district on April 17, 2017. [Photo/China Daily]

Rumor: Catkins can spread novel coronavirus.

Fact:

There isn't any evidence that viruses are contained in the catkins or pollen.

The novel coronavirus is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets, with particles that are relatively large in size. An infection is only caused by inhaling them in large amounts at a close distance. Aerosols, formed by dehydrated droplets that contain proteins and viruses, can float and spread in the air. But it is hard for the virus to survive without the proper temperature and humidity. It won't stay in the air for long. Even if the virus stayed on a catkin, its concentration level would be too low to cause infections.

On the other hand, people still need to protect themselves from catkins as these pollen grains can cause allergies. For people with a sensitivity to pollen, inhaling catkins can cause nasal itching, sneezing, an itchy throat, headaches and allergic asthma - which in severe cases may lead to death by anaphylaxis.

To fight pollen allergies, wearing a mask is recommended to prevent inhaling catkins. Other effective measures include immediate washing of the hands, nose and face after coming back in from outside, prompt removal of catkins which are indoors or attached to clothes, a bland diet, drinking plenty of water and increasing indoor humidity. When going outdoors, try to choose a time when there are fewer flying catkins and avoid wearing a coat with a fabric that collects the catkins.

Please feel free to contact us by sending your questions to question@chinadaily.com.cn or commenting on China Daily app. We will ask experts to answer them.

Editor's picks
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US