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News
Air sampling at four major US airports detected SARS-CoV-2 in nearly all samples and influenza A in nearly 1 in 5, a new CDC-led study finds. Researchers say this approach can catch respiratory viruses even from asymptomatic travelers who wouldn't show up in traditional testing. The findings suggest airport air monitoring could become a key tool in future pandemic preparedness.
A CDC-led study published in PLOS Global Public Health found that air sampling at four major US airports — San Francisco International, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles, and Dallas/Fort Worth — successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 and influenza A viruses in 2023 and 2024. Samplers were placed near customs, immigration, and international arrivals areas, collecting air for up to 30 hours at a time. The study also identified 30 viral species in total, recovering high-quality genomes for SARS-CoV-2, influenza, bocavirus, and seasonal coronaviruses.
Researchers say the approach is especially powerful because it captures pathogens from a wide range of travelers — including those who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic and wouldn't otherwise be flagged by clinical testing or wastewater systems.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Airports are global mixing bowls for pathogens. Adding air monitoring to the surveillance toolkit could give public health officials an early warning system for emerging outbreaks — and help direct resources like ventilation upgrades, air purification, and targeted public health messaging before the next pandemic takes hold.
