In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the elusive aerobiological pathway of infection transmission remains controversial and the world remains unprepared to control pandemic respiratory viruses. Focus on the science of infectious disease aerobiology and explore the historical roots of confusion and current political-economic forces that impede understanding and control of airborne infection transmission. Emphasis on reading and interpretation of original literature, understanding and using basic mathematical models, and evaluation of intervention strategies in the context of the hierarchy of hazard controls in public health.