The doctor pointed out the risk of transmission of viruses through the air conditioner

Internist Svetlana Burnatskaya warned that air conditioners and fans do not spread viruses by themselves, but air currents can carry aerosols containing them over a longer distance.

In conversation with Lenta.Ru On Monday, August 3, the doctor noted that the risk of infection is especially high in small, poorly ventilated rooms. According to her, when breathing, talking, coughing or sneezing, a sick person releases aerosols that can remain in the air for a long time. If a fan or an air conditioner with a directional airflow is running nearby, they can be transported much further. The specialist explained that most household air conditioners only recycle air, so with insufficient ventilation, the concentration of potentially dangerous particles gradually increases.

The expert stressed that outbreaks of respiratory infections in enclosed spaces are primarily associated with poor ventilation and prolonged human contact, rather than using an air conditioner. As an example, she cited an office where a fan can carry aerosols from a coughing employee. In such cases, the doctor recommended changing the direction of the air flow, ventilating the room or increasing the flow of fresh air, and if possible, switching to remote work or wearing a medical mask for the sick person.

Burnatskaya recommended regular maintenance of air conditioners, timely change of filters and, if necessary, use air purifiers with HEPA filters. She also recalled the importance of simple preventive measures: airing rooms, maintaining a distance, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

According to the expert, air conditioners and fans themselves are not a source of infection, however, with poor ventilation and improperly organized air flows, they can contribute to the spread of viruses. Therefore, when a person with SARS symptoms appeared in the team, the doctor advised to provide fresh air and, if possible, limit contact with the patient.

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At the end of July, Burnatskaya named sudden temperature changes as one of the main causes of acute respiratory viral infections in the heat. According to the expert, a sudden transition from heat to a cool room creates an additional burden on the body, writes 360.ru . She explained that cold air by itself does not cause acute respiratory viral infections, but it can weaken the protective functions of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, facilitating the penetration of viruses. Burnatskaya noted that the air conditioner itself is not the cause of colds, if it is properly cared for, the website clarifies. kp.ru .

At the same time, therapist, cardiologist Andrey Kondrakhin, in a conversation with RT, stated that without proper care, the air conditioner becomes a source of dust mites and mold fungi. To reduce risks, do not allow a stream of cold air to blow directly at a person, and turn on the appliance immediately after coming from the street. Before that, on July 22, allergist Vladimir Bolibok, in an interview with IA Regnum, warned about the dangers of dirty air conditioners. According to him, if the air conditioner is not cleaned for a long time, favorable conditions for the reproduction of mold and bacteria are created in it.

In July, internist Anna Kuznetsova warned that without regular disinfection, a contaminated air conditioner could spread bacteria and mold spores, which is especially dangerous for people with chronic lung diseases. Pravda.Ru . In June, Roskachestvo reported that the air conditioner, which had not been cleaned for a long time, was a health hazard.

The agency recommended cleaning the filters every two to three weeks, especially when the air conditioner is running every day. In May, internist Ivan Yeremenko said that the main mistake when using an indoor air conditioner in hot weather is trying to instantly turn heat into frost. The optimal indoor temperature should be no more than 5-7 degrees below the outdoor temperature, but not lower than 22 degrees, according to the Moscow City News agency.