How many COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic? Research shows it may be a lot more than thought

[LiberalArkie]

Two-thirds or more of people infected with COVID-19 who infect others may do so before ever showing symptoms themselves, a prospect that is prompting intense activity to understand the so-called asymptomatic nature of some carriers.

Many, perhaps most asymptomatic patients will never actually develop symptoms, some researchers believe, making them a silent population of the infected, a covert cohort that is undercounted by typical COVID-19 genetic tests.

One study out of China last week argues that so many asymptomatic people go undetected that it may be time to have a new definition of infectious people -- one that relies not only on genetic tests but possibly on serological tests that find antibodies in the blood even when a person tests negative for the disease.

Snip

If asymptomatic people are truly a group that never develop symptoms and don't even show up on a genetic test, and therefore are not confirmed cases, then that means the transmission by people without symptoms may be much higher than believed.

Snip

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-many-covid-19-infections-are-asymptomatic-research-shows-it-may-be-a-lot-more-than-thought/

[live love laugh]

1. In terms of virology (?) I wonder how many flu cases are asymptomatic.

It’s just interesting to think that maybe many more viruses — not just the flu — also have asymptomatic spread. It’s probably not been scrutinized because the severity hasn’t been as great. Just wondering out loud ...

[LiberalArkie]

2. Yea, for sure. Might explain how we get a cold and flu and not being around anyone coughing.