Coronavirus UK: What is a ‘superspreader’ and how did the British man pass on the disease?

A BRITISH man who contracted coronavirus in Singapore is thought to have spread the virus to at least 11 other cases. He’s been called a ‘superspreader’ but it’s not fully understood why some people are more likely to pass on the virus. What is a superspreader? Many outbreaks in the past have a 20:80 rule, […]

A BRITISH man who contracted coronavirus in Singapore is thought to have spread the virus to at least 11 other cases.

He’s been called a ‘superspreader’ but it’s not fully understood why some people are more likely to pass on the virus.

Rex Features

What is a superspreader?

Many outbreaks in the past have a 20:80 rule, this means that around 20 percent of individuals with the virus will contribute to 80 percent of it’s spread.

Specialists say that identifying these individuals is vital in keeping the spread of virus under control.

Medical professionals are still unsure what makes someone a superspreader but one theory is that some people may pass a higher dosage of the virus into the environment by sneezing or coughing.

Environmental elements are also likely to be a factor, with people who travel for work playing a role in the risk of cross contamination.

This seems to be the case for the British businessman, who had travelled from Singapore to the French Alps and then back to the UK.

“Typhoid Mary” was a famous superspreader and an Irish cook who infected 51 people in the US at the start of century.

How did the British man spread coronavirus?

•  20-23 January: The UK businessman attended a conference for a gas analytics company, Servomex, at a five-star hotel in Singapore.
• 24 January: Flies to Contamines-Montjoie ski resort in the Haute-Savoie area of the French Alps.
•  28 January: He flew with easyJet from Geneva to London Gatwick at 6.50pm
•  6 February: A man was diagnosed with the virus at a Brighton hospital and was later transferred to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London. He became the UK’s third case after two people were diagnosed in York.

•  8 February: Five Brits who shared a ski chalet with the businessman all test positive for coronavirus, including a nine year old boy. There were 11 people in the chalet.
•  9 February: Another British man, who was also in the ski resort, tested positive in Majorca.
• 9/10 February: Five more people have been diagnosed with the virus by UK officials. This brings the current number of those infected with the disease to eight.