Catch Me if You Can: Superspreading of COVID-19

While significant insights have been gained concerning COVID-19, superspreading of coronaviruses remains a mystery. The vast majority of cases have been linked to a relatively small portion of infected individuals. Yet, the genetic sequence of the virus, severity of disease, and underlying host parameters, such as age, sex, and health conditions, are not clearly driving the superspreading phenomenon. In this commentary we discuss what is known and what is not known about coronavirus superspreader transmission and explore whether characteristics of the virion, the donor, or the environment contribute to this phenomenon.

Automated summary

The superspreading of coronaviruses remains a mystery despite significant insights gained about COVID-19. Factors such as the genetic sequence of the virus, severity of disease, and underlying host parameters do not clearly drive this phenomenon. Further research is needed to explore whether characteristics of the virion, the donor, or the environment contribute to superspreading.