In a hypothetical protocol to determine whether a newly emergent virus can be transmitted from humans to humans via mosquitoes at workplaces, researchers propose randomly assigning employees to use mosquito nets (Group A) or not (Group B) and measuring infection incidence. Should this protocol be allowed to proceed?

• A. No
• B. Yes
• C. Not enough information
• D. It depends on oversight

Answer: (A)

The key issue here is protecting participants from harm in research involving infectious disease. Under TCPS2, any study must minimize risks and ensure that any risks are justified by potential benefits, with meaningful informed consent and safeguards. Deliberately testing whether a virus can be transmitted from human to human via mosquitoes in a workplace by randomly assigning employees to use nets or not creates substantial, real risk of infection for participants and could extend to coworkers and the surrounding community. There is no clear, compelling direct benefit to those participating that would outweigh this risk, and the workplace setting makes containment and monitoring extremely difficult. Simply put, such a design would expose people to harm without a feasible way to ensure safety or prevent spread, and oversight alone cannot justify proceeding in the face of such risk. Therefore, the protocol should not be allowed to proceed.