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The more public touchscreens are used, the less they spread infection

Embargoed until: Publicly released:
Peer-reviewed: This work was reviewed and scrutinised by relevant independent experts.

Simulation/modelling: This type of study uses a computer simulation or mathematical model to predict an outcome. The original values put into the model may have come from real-world measurements (eg: past spread of a disease used to model its future spread).

Computer simulations by international scientists investigating the spread of disease via public touchscreens used in airport self-chek-in and bag drop revealed an unexpected result - the more the screens were used, the less they spread infection. The researchers speculate that this may occur because once a virus or other infective agent has been left on the screen by a user, it is picked up by the very next user, who effectively wipes it clean. So the unlucky second user protects all the subsequent users from picking up the disease. Less surprisingly, the simulations suggested another effective way to reduce disease transmission is to clean the screens regularly.

Journal/conference: Royal Society Open Science

Research: Paper

Organisation/s: University of Cyprus, Cyprus

Funder: No funding has been received for this article.

Media release

From: The Royal Society

Modelling disease transmission from touchscreen user interfaces

The extensive use of public touchscreens interfaces has made them plausible instruments of touch-mediated disease transmission. We model the risk of infection from contaminated touchscreens by simulating a real-world scenario; using airport self check-in and bag-drop machines. A counter-intuitive result was that the infection risk decreased with increased touch rates required for touchscreen interaction. Additionally, as one of few parameters to be controlled, the rate of cleaning/disinfecting screens plays an essential role in mitigating R, though alternative technological strategies could prove more effective. The simulation model developed provides a foundation for future advances in more sophisticated disease-transmission modelling.

Pack your bags – This study modelled the infection risk of contaminated touchscreens in airport self check-in and bag-drop machines, and found the R rate decreased with touch screen use. The rate of cleaning and disinfecting screens plays an essential role in mitigating the R rate, the authors said.

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