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A large number of infectious diseases is transmitted by respiratory droplets.How long these droplets persist in the air, how far they can travel, and howlong the pathogens they might carry survive are all decisive factors for thespread of droplet-borne diseases. The subject is extremely multifaceted and itsaspects range across different disciplines, yet most of them have only seldombeen considered in the physics community. In this review, we discuss thephysical principles that govern the fate of respiratory droplets and anyviruses trapped inside them, with a focus on the role of relative humidity.Importantly, low relative humidity -- as encountered, for instance, indoorsduring winter and inside aircraft -- facilitates evaporation and keeps eveninitially large droplets suspended in air as aerosol for extended periods oftime. What is more, relative humidity affects the stability of viruses inaerosol through several physical mechanisms such as efflorescence andinactivation at the air-water interface, whose role in virus inactivationnonetheless remains poorly understood. Elucidating the role of relativehumidity in the droplet spread of disease would permit us to design preventivemeasures that could aid in reducing the chance of transmission, particularly inindoor environment.

Relative humidity in droplet and airborne transmission of disease