WHO Comments Breed Confusion Over Asymptomatic Spread of COVID-19

After stating that asymptomatic individuals are unlikely to transmit the novel coronavirus, World Health Organization officials clarify that this is very much an open question.

Written byJef Akst

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The World Health Organization’s technical lead for coronavirus response, Maria Van Kerkhove, said at a press briefing on Monday (June 8) that asymptomatic transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was “very rare.” On Tuesday, Van Kerkhove clarified at a follow-up Q&A session on COVID-19 transmission that she was referring only to patients who never show any symptoms at all, not those who have not yet begun to show symptoms—individuals who are classified as being presymptomatic—nor those cases that involve only mild symptoms. The WHO estimates that among truly asymptomatic patients, 16 percent can infect others. “We do know that some people who are asymptomatic can transmit the virus on,” Van Kerkhov said on Tuesday.

Still, many researchers, including National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci, have challenged the WHO’s assertion that the virus is only rarely spread by truly asymptomatic individuals. “[This] ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
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Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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