Asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2: the dark side of COVID-19

Authors

  • Roberto Rodríguez Labrada Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba. La Habana,
  • Yaimee Vazquez Mojena Centro de Neurociencias de Cuba. La Habana,
  • Luis C. Velázquez Pérez Academia de Ciencias de Cuba

Keywords:

asymptomatic transmission, presymptomatic transmission, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, healthy carriers, pandemic

Abstract

Since the end of 2019, humanity has been facing a deadly coronavirus that has spread globally, putting a strain on health systems around the world. Among the challenges of the current COVID-19 pandemic is the high rate of asymptomatic/presymptomatic transmissions of SARS-CoV-2 virus, as individuals who do not develop symptoms usually escape health surveillance and isolation measures, contributing significantly to the spread of the pandemic. Reports available in the literature reveal that of total transmissions, 6 to 25% originate from individuals who do not develop symptoms, but when isolation measures for symptomatic cases are implemented, this percentage can rise to 80%. Minimizing the effect of these silent transmissions requires the adoption of more comprehensive community surveillance and infection-control strategies, as well as greater citizen collaboration with social isolation. Cuba does not escape this phenomenon, since our system of surveillance and community surveillance has made it possible to detect and isolate a significant number of healthy carriers, but this does not exclude that several of these individuals still persist in our communities. It is therefore necessary to intensify our epidemiological surveillance activities at the primary health care level and for the population to comply more responsibly with government measures that promote social isolation.

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Published

2020-04-13

How to Cite

Rodríguez Labrada, R., Vazquez Mojena, Y., & Velázquez Pérez, L. C. (2020). Asymptomatic and presymptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2: the dark side of COVID-19. Anales De La Academia De Ciencias De Cuba, 10(2), e770. Retrieved from https://revistaccuba.sld.cu/index.php/revacc/article/view/770

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2020): mayo-agosto (especial COVID-19)

Section

Biomedical sciences

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