Infectious Diseases Associated with Desert Dust Outbreaks: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Desert dust outbreaks and dust storms are the major source of particulate matter globally and pose a major threat to human health. We investigated the microorganisms transported with desert dust particles and evaluated their potential impact on human health. Methods: A systematic review of all reports on the association between non-anthropogenic desert dust pollution, dust microorganisms and human health is conducted. Results: In total, 51 articles were included in this review. The affected regions studied were Asia (32/51, 62.7%) followed by Europe (9/51, 17.6%), America (6/51, 11.8%), Africa (4/51, 7.8%) and Australia (1/51, 2.0%). The Sahara Desert was the most frequent source of dust, followed by Asian and American deserts. In 39/51 studies the dust-related microbiome was analyzed, while, in 12/51 reports, the association of desert dust with infectious disease outbreaks was examined. Pathogenic and opportunistic agents were isolated from dust in 24/39 (61.5%) and 29/39 (74.4%) of the studies, respectively. A significant association of dust events with infectious disease outbreaks was found in 10/12 (83.3%) reports. The infectious diseases that were mostly investigated with dust outbreaks were pneumonia, respiratory tract infections, COVID-19, pulmonary tuberculosis and coccidioidomycosis. Conclusions: Desert dust outbreaks are vehicles of a significant number of pathogenic or opportunistic microorganisms and limited data indicate an association between dust events and infectious disease outbreaks. Further research is required to strengthen the correlation between dust events and infectious diseases and subsequently guide preventive public health measures.

Microbiome Interconnectedness throughout Environments with Major Consequences for Healthy People and a Healthy Planet

“…Furthermore, there is evidence that plant, animal, and human pathogens are present in long-distance aeolian transported microbiomes (63,64). These also might be associated with disease outbreaks (65). For instance, a recent study by Björnham et al (64) showed that the foot-and-mouth disease virus could be transmitted over distances of up to 50 km.…”

Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond

“…Direct and indirect transmission routes of COVID‐19 virus are via touching infected surfaces (skin‐to‐skin, touching infected inanimate objects), then mediating the virus infection through the mouth, nose, or eyes (Moriyama et al., 2020; Peng et al., 2020; Qu et al., 2020). Transmission via inhalation of small, exhaled respiratory air droplets (e.g., close contact within 1m) and aerosols (e.g., presence of microbes and particles <5 μm in diameter that remain in the air for long periods of time and transmitted to others over distances greater than 1 m) is likely effective (Qu et al., 2020; Service, 2020; Vergadi et al., 2022). The most efficient transmission route amid the ongoing pandemic of SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants is inhalation and exhalation of the viral‐aerosol (Moriyama et al., 2020; Peng et al., 2020; Qu et al., 2020; Service, 2020).…”

Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond

“…Direct and indirect transmission routes of COVID-19 virus are via touching infected surfaces (skin-to-skin, touching infected inanimate objects), then mediating the virus infection through the mouth, nose, or eyes (Moriyama et al, 2020;Peng et al, 2020;Qu et al, 2020). Transmission via inhalation of small, exhaled respiratory air droplets (e.g., close contact within 1m) and aerosols (e.g., presence of microbes and particles <5 μm in diameter that remain in the air for long periods of time and transmitted to others over distances greater than 1 m) is likely effective (Qu et al, 2020;Service, 2020;Vergadi et al, 2022). The most efficient transmission route amid the ongoing pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants is inhalation and exhalation of the viral-aerosol (Moriyama et al, 2020;Peng et al, 2020;Qu et al, 2020;Service, 2020).…”