Far-UVC light safely kills airborne flu

Amid an historically bad influenza season, researchers said they may have found a safe and effective way to kill airborne pathogens, including influenza viruses.

According to David J. Brenner, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Medical Center, and colleagues, a narrow spectrum of ultraviolet C light called far-UVC can safely prevent the spread of diseases like influenza and tuberculosis that can be transmitted through the air.

Brenner and colleagues tested far-UVC against influenza A(H1N1) by aerosolizing a virus solution in a nebulizer and passing it through a radiation chamber that mimicked the conditions of a public space, simulating the transmission of influenza via coughing and sneezing.

The virus solution was exposed to low doses of far-UVC produced by lamps that were set close to the chamber. Light was also reflected back through the chamber by polished aluminum on the other side, increasing the exposure of the aerosolized virus. They conducted zero-dose control studies with the lamps turned off.

A type of UVC light that is safe for humans can kill airborne viruses, including influenza, according to researchers.

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According to their findings, which were published in Scientific Reports, the far-UVC light inactivated greater than 95% of H1N1.

UVC-based sterilization is not a new concept. In the past, researchers have demonstrated that UVC light can reduce the incidence of Clostridium difficile infections, kill drug-resistant bacteria in hospital rooms and rid patient touchscreens of viruses. But the technology is not widely used in public because exposure to it can cause cancer and cataracts in humans, according to Brenner and colleagues.

In a news release, Brenner said far-UVC is safe for humans because it cannot penetrate the outer dead-cell layer of their skin or the tear layer in their eyes, but it works on much smaller viruses and bacteria, reaching their DNA and killing them.

"If our results are confirmed in other settings, it follows that the use of overhead low-level far-UVC light in public locations would be a safe and efficient method for limiting the transmission and spread of airborne-mediated microbial diseases, such as influenza and tuberculosis," he said. – by Gerard Gallagher

Reference:

Welch D, et al. Sci Rep. 2018;doi:10.1038/s41598-018-21058-w.

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.