Donald K. Milton

Donald Milton, M.D., DrPH, is a leading contributor to the scientific understanding of airborne transmission of respiratory viruses, including coronaviruses and influenza. Along with other scientists, he has advocated for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to clearly communicate about the role of aerosol transmission and to mandate a combination of masks and environmental measures to protect workers and the public.

Milton's work focuses on the interrelated areas of infectious bioaerosols, exhaled breath analysis and the development and application of innovative methods for respiratory epidemiology. His study examining how the influenza virus spreads (2018) using exhaled breath analysis showed that airborne transmission is more likely an important mode for influenza virus (flu) than previously thought.

He is currently the Principal Investigator of the UMD StopCOVID study which examines how much airborne virus does an infected person release when they breathe, talk, or sing and how well do surgical and homemade masks block release of airborne virus?

Visit stopcovid.umd.edu