Air purifiers alone cannot prevent viral spread in schools, say experts

New Delhi: Even though only a few of Delhi's schools use air purifiers to combat toxic air, new research suggests these devices may not be enough to stop the spread of infections. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that while HEPA filters slightly reduced the number of virus types present in classroom air, they did not lower overall viral exposure, indicating that air purifiers alone cannot prevent airborne infections.

The research, conducted under the School Inner-City Asthma Intervention Study (SICAS-2) in the United States, analysed 200 classrooms across 39 public schools. Using advanced digital droplet PCR technology, researchers tested air samples for 19 common respiratory viruses, including influenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus, and SARS-CoV-2. They found that respiratory viru