1. What is an asymptomatic carrier?
Asymptomatic carriers refer to those who have tested positive via a nucleic acid test, but do not show clinical symptoms such as fever or fatigue. They are infected with the virus but do not develop any typical symptoms. Even they themselves are unaware of their own illness.
2. What kind of people will become asymptomatic carriers?
Based on current cases, asymptomatic carriers are mainly the close contacts of confirmed cases, especially the patients' family members.
3. Are asymptomatic carriers contagious?
At present, the major sources for transmission are patients infected with NCP. So asymptomatic carriers can be contagious as well.
4. What are the transmission routes of NCP?
Patients, whether showing symptoms or not, contract NCP mainly through respiratory droplets and contact transmission.
5. Will asymptomatic carriers become the super spreader?
Based on the current information, only a small minority of patients are asymptomatic carriers. They are mildly ill and less contagious as they carry a low viral load, thus posing little threat to others.
6. Is it necessary to put asymptomatic carriers in quarantine?
If available, close contacts of patients should all be quarantined in designated medical institutions, including asymptomatic carriers.
7. Am I an asymptomatic carrier?
You do not have to worry too much if you have no travel or residence history in Wuhan and its surrounding areas in the past fortnight, no one in your family has been diagnosed with NCP or you have no contacts with confirmed or suspected cases. Otherwise, you should report your condition promptly and be quarantined for medical diagnosis and treatment.
8. What else should we be informed of regarding asymptomatic carriers?
The proportion of patients with mild symptoms is higher in NCP patients than that in SARS or MERS. There is no definite boundary between patients with mild symptoms and asymptomatic carriers. The patients themselves may not notice the difference. Thus, a series of medical examination and diagnosis is needed before anyone is identified as an asymptomatic carrier.
9. How should you protect yourself?
You can stop the spread of the virus by staying home as much as possible, avoiding gatherings, wearing a mask when going out and washing hands frequently. These measures are also effective when you are around asymptomatic carriers. You should maintain good hygiene at home, keep furniture and tableware clean and open the windows regularly for better ventilation. Family members should avoid sharing towels with each other.
1. 什么是“无症状感染者”？
新型冠状病毒的“无症状感染者”指的是：没有明显的临床表现如发热、乏力等，但是做病毒核酸检测呈阳性的人。
简单来说，就是有的人身上携带病毒，但是自己不发病，没有明显症状，自己也不知道自己生病了。
2. 什么人会成为“无症状感染者”？
目前发现的无症状感染者主要是病人的密切接触者，更多发生在家庭成员中。
3.“无症状感染者”会传染他人吗？
目前所见传染源主要是新型冠状病毒感染的患者。
无症状感染者也可能成为感染源。
4. 传播途径是什么？
无论是有症状的患者还是无症状的患者，新型冠状病毒目前的主要传播途径仍然为经呼吸道飞沫和接触传播。
5. “无症状感染者”会成为超级传播者吗？
从目前的情况来看，无症状感染者所占的比例非常低，病情相对偏轻，携带的病毒数量比较少，传播能力相对较弱，传播的危害也比较小。
6. “无症状感染者”需不需要隔离？
有条件的地区应该对病人的密切接触者采取集中医学观察，无症状的感染者原则上也应该采取集中隔离观察。
7. 我自己是不是“无症状感染者”？
如果在过去14天中没有武汉及周边地区旅行史，且身边无家庭聚集性发病，无新型冠状病毒肺炎确诊或疑似病例密切接触史，不需要过度担心。
如果有上述情况，则应及时上报、及时隔离，进行相应的医学观察和诊疗。
8. 还需要特别注意什么？
和SARS和MERS相比，新型冠状病毒肺炎轻症病人的比例更高，而轻症和无症状往往又没有一条绝对的分界限，让患者难以察觉。是否为无症状感染者，还需做一系列的医学诊断和检测才能得出结论。
9. 我们该如何防护自身？
少出门、不聚集、戴口罩、勤洗手等，都可以切断新型冠状病毒的主要传播途径，即使身边存在无症状感染者，也可以有效预防新型冠状病毒肺炎。
在家中也要注意卫生，如勤开窗，常通风，家庭成员不共用毛巾，保持家具、餐具清洁等。
