The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to understand better how airborne viruses spread. Studies have shown that droplets released by infected persons can travel significant distances and remain infectious. However, there has been limited research on ventilation and aerosol transmission in cruise ships.

In a recent study, researchers investigated how ventilation in a cruise ship cabin affects airborne viral transmission. They used computational simulations to model the spread of saliva droplets from a coughing person under different ventilation conditions. The team examined four ventilation flow rates (60 m3/h, 120 m3/h, 240 m3/h, and 600 m3/h) and the positioning of the coughing person inside the cabin.

Study findings

The researchers found that higher ventilation flow rates do not necessarily reduce the spread of droplets. In fact, higher flow rates can actually increase droplet scattering. The optimal ventilation flow rate for minimizing droplet spread and maintaining adequate ventilation is 120 m3/h.

The researchers also found that the position of the coughing person can affect droplet spread. Droplets may travel further if the coughing person is near a door or other opening. Wearing a mask can help to reduce droplet emission and transmission.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable insights into how to optimize ventilation to reduce the risk of airborne viral transmission on cruise ships. The following recommendations are made:

• Use a ventilation flow rate of 120 m3/h.
• Position coughing persons away from doors and other openings.
• Have coughing persons wear masks.

After a cabin is vacated, the ventilation flow rate can be increased to 600 m3/h for 12 minutes to completely renew the air.

The study also found that:

• Proper ventilation can accelerate droplet desiccation.
• Rapid droplet evaporation does not necessarily reflect the instant inactivation of the pathogen.

These findings suggest that ventilation should be used in conjunction with other infection control measures, such as masking and hand hygiene, to reduce the risk of airborne viral transmission.