Kim Roberts

Lots of new people following me. I'm a virologists, living in Ireland. My specialist areas are influenza viruses and transmission of respiratory viruses. Assistant Professor of Virology at Trinity College Dublin. I'm passionate about science communication.

@PedroNunez Norovirus isn't breathed out but vomiting & diarrhea (esp. flushing loo with the lid up) can expel virus into the air. That virus can be deposited in the mouth & ingested. So I would increase ventilation & wear a mask + gloves to clean up vomit etc.

@MoyneFlu so is it airborne or not????

Today I spoke about norovirus transmission for RTE news. Here's the long version. rte.ie/news/player/20…

Here's an open access review that discusses infection control for norovirus. #seccestitle150" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/article/S1198-…

Just like respiratory virus transmission, there are a lot of unknowns & varying estimates for norovirus transmission. Virus transmission is not studied enough and is difficult to study. Human norovirus doesn't replicate well in the lab, so similar proxy viruses are often used.

@Mark_Coughlan Glad both your kids are better now.

Definitely, if you’ve small ones younger than three months, keep an eye if you suspect RSV. In retrospect the breathing change came before the colouring change, I’ll be watching for that in future. And don’t - like we did - doubt yourself or think you’re overreacting.

Mother on @TodaywithClaire speaking about experience seeing her six week old being hospitalised with RSV. It sounds *exactly* like our experience a few weeks back. Our eight week old was stuffy & sniffly, but our 18 month old was visibly much worse - coughing, temp and very flat.

Feeling valued. The undergraduate project students in my lab gave me this fabulous Christmas present. Polar bears and bees, two of my favourite creatures. 🥰

My kids have had their flu vaccines. It's free and very easy. A quick spray up the nose and it's done. Kids are seen as one of the drivers of influenza transmission and the aim of the intranasal vac is to protect kids and reduce transmission.

Fantastic turn out. Fully support this protest. The situation is ridiculous, students and their education are suffering.

Such a shame the majority of Councillors in @dlrcc voted @DaveQSocDemsDLR innovative proposal for a 0% adjustment with a refund scheme for bands 1-7, 72% of homeowners would have been eligible. The plan excluded vulture landlords, high earners and wealthy property owners @SocDems

As of the weekend just gone, Róisin Shortall TD is the longest serving female TD in the history of Dáil Éireann. What a legend.

Frustration rings throughout this editorial. nature.com/articles/s4159… "Every zoonotic infection should be a cause for concern, but research funding seems to flow only when high-income countries are heavily affected."