Influenza virus under microscope

This digitally-colorized, negative-stained transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image depicted a number of Influenza A virions. (Photo by CDC on Unsplash)

VANCOUVER — This study will make you think twice about stepping outside for a breath of fresh air. A team of scientists from around the world confirmed millions of viruses rising into the atmosphere, traveling — sometimes for thousands of miles — and falling back down to the surface.

The study, carried out by researchers from the U.S., Canada, and Spain, is the first of its kind to confirm viruses are being swept up into the free troposphere — the layer of atmosphere between the area where Earth’s weather systems develop — and below the stratosphere, where airplanes fly.

The numbers are “astonishing” the researchers say; but remember, a virus is a tiny particle, little more than a strand of DNA and a mechanism for attaching to organic matter. Scientists aren’t suggesting the slightest bit that we should all return to spending our lives in lockdown again. Countless studies continue to point to the great health benefits from spending more time outdoors.

“Every day, more than 800 million viruses are deposited per square meter above the planetary boundary layer — that’s 25 viruses for each person in Canada,” says University of British Columbia virologist Curtis Suttle, lead author of the study, in a media release.

Scientists have been finding genetically similar viruses in disparate parts of the planet.

“Roughly 20 years ago we began finding genetically similar viruses occurring in very different environments around the globe,” says Suttle. “This preponderance of long-residence viruses travelling the atmosphere likely explains why—it’s quite conceivable to have a virus swept up into the atmosphere on one continent and deposited on another.”

Suttle and his team found that viruses and bacteria are often swept up into the atmosphere by attaching themselves to particles in soil dust and sea spray. The researchers used platforms in Spain’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to detect how many viruses and bacteria were settling there every day. They found billions of viruses and tens of millions of bacteria being deposited there per square meter every day.

“Bacteria and viruses are typically deposited back to Earth via rain events and Saharan dust intrusions. However, the rain was less efficient removing viruses from the atmosphere,” adds study author Isabel Reche, a microbial ecologist from the University of Granada.

The full study is published in International Society for Microbial Ecology Journal.

This article was first published on February 8, 2018

About Ben Renner

Writer, editor, curator, and social media manager based in Denver, Colorado. View my writing at http://rennerb1.wixsite.com/benrenner.

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452 Comments

  1. cappelletti63 says:

    All those planes playing tic tac toe. Its used to cull the people. We’re being culled like a wild herd of animals.

  2. Sgtsnuffy says:

    WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE . HEAD FOR THE HILLS , THE SKY IS FALLING, CATS AND DOGS ARE SLEEPING TOGETHER, OBAMA JUST DECLARED HIMSELF EMPEROR OF PLANET EARTH , AL GORE JUST ADMITTED GLOBAL WHATEVER IS NOTHING BUT BULLSHIT !!!!!
    NOTHING NEW HERE, THIS CRAP HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS PEOPLE . SHEESH WHAT ELSE ARE THEY GONNA COME UP WITH TO RIP OFF PEOPLES MONEY .

  3. bayoucastine says:

    This entire article sounds too much like the fable “The sky is falling”. Just a little too much ado about nothing – except promoting pharmaceuticals.

    I’m from the “ole school”. At 83 years young I’ve had only ONE “flu shot” – and that was when exiting the US Military. [1957] We were given the “shot” without our permission – in order to receive our honorable discharge. [At least that is how it was presented.] I came down with the flu two days before the orders of discharge, which included 4 additional years inactive duty. I did not disclose my fever, that would have meant confinement to sick bay until I recovered. I wanted to go home to my wife and family.

    Since then I’ve refused any and all “offers” for vaccinations. I’ve had only one other bought with flu, for 2 days. I am on 2 prescribed medications – the same dosage since 1993. I eat what I want, when I want and as much as i want. An EKG last march provided a completely normal reading.

    I submit my health is a gift from God – and staying AWAY from doctors and medications except when ABSOLUTELY necessary…

  4. Liberals Are RACISTS & HATERS says:

    And then, right along with this story, is another story below it, entitled, “Cover Your Mouth: Airborne Viruses Live For Nearly An Hour, Study Finds.”

    So which is it? They either travel the globe or live for only an hour once airborne – You can’t have it both ways, dumbazzes.

    1. roosterCrow4 says:

      The mockingbird media always reports both ways. How else will they push their Hegelian dialectic?

  5. Scott H says:

    Matthew 16:3

  6. Chuck Schultz says:

    Chemtrails. Another logical conclusion about genetically similar viruses occurring in different parts of the world is because they are being engineered/cultivated from a single source and being disbursed via chemtrails.

  7. hillbillybuddha says:

    They are spraying fear into the air for the ignorant to breathe.

  8. JeffreyPtr says:

    Interesting, but it’s hardly something new. It’s just a phenomenon we’ve recently become aware of.

  9. glamdeluxe says:

    Were all gonna DIIIIIIIEEEEEE!

  10. Geo says:

    The sky is falling and viruses are going along for the ride.

  11. Terry Seeker says:

    All vaccinated people should be wearing a mask for 3 weeks so they don’t infect others. Read the Manufacturers safety data sheet!

  12. Alfred E Neuman says:

    Most likely a government funded study with an outcome that will ensure future government funding for follow up studies.

  13. JGO says:

    Women, children and minorities hardest hit.

  14. Dennis Johnson says:

    With few exceptions, there is and always has been bacteria everywhere……This article must of been written by chicken little….THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING…..

  15. aliswell says:

    So early in the year, yet I believe we may have just found the winner of “The Sky is Falling!” award for 2018.

  16. Prelusive007 says:

    . . . . I’ll admit, it had me worried until I read this is for the Canadians . . . . “…800 million viruses deposited per square metre … that’s 25 viruses for each person in Canada,”. Good thing those Canadians have socialized health care.

  17. Indymav says:

    Any alien invaders be aware. We are a very germie planet.