The k number tells us whether the spread of a disease is steady or comes in big bursts, with a small proportion of people infecting many others. The latter is know as superspreading.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, and the colder weather approaches, new mathematical models are needed to study changing social behaviours and indoor spaces.
A new test developed in Australia will reportedly be able to tell us whether someone has a high ‘viral load’. But that doesn’t automatically make them a ‘superspreader’.