TY - JOUR TI - Heterogeneity in transmissibility and shedding SARS-CoV-2 via droplets and aerosols AU - Chen, Paul Z AU - Bobrovitz, Niklas AU - Premji, Zahra AU - Koopmans, Marion AU - Fisman, David N AU - Gu, Frank X A2 - van der Meer, Jos WM A2 - Vermeulen, Lucie VL - 10 PY - 2021 DA - 2021/04/16 SP - e65774 C1 - eLife 2021;10:e65774 DO - 10.7554/eLife.65774 UR - https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.65774 AB - Background:. Which virological factors mediate overdispersion in the transmissibility of emerging viruses remains a long-standing question in infectious disease epidemiology. Methods:. Here, we use systematic review to develop a comprehensive dataset of respiratory viral loads (rVLs) of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1 and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. We then comparatively meta-analyze the data and model individual infectiousness by shedding viable virus via respiratory droplets and aerosols. Results:. The analyses indicate heterogeneity in rVL as an intrinsic virological factor facilitating greater overdispersion for SARS-CoV-2 in the COVID-19 pandemic than A(H1N1)pdm09 in the 2009 influenza pandemic. For COVID-19, case heterogeneity remains broad throughout the infectious period, including for pediatric and asymptomatic infections. Hence, many COVID-19 cases inherently present minimal transmission risk, whereas highly infectious individuals shed tens to thousands of SARS-CoV-2 virions/min via droplets and aerosols while breathing, talking and singing. Coughing increases the contagiousness, especially in close contact, of symptomatic cases relative to asymptomatic ones. Infectiousness tends to be elevated between 1 and 5 days post-symptom onset. Conclusions:. Intrinsic case variation in rVL facilitates overdispersion in the transmissibility of emerging respiratory viruses. Our findings present considerations for disease control in the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future outbreaks of novel viruses. Funding:. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant program, NSERC Senior Industrial Research Chair program and the Toronto COVID-19 Action Fund. KW - COVID-19 KW - emerging pathogens KW - influenza KW - overdispersion KW - superspreading JF - eLife SN - 2050-084X PB - eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd ER -