13 dangerous Covid myths to avoid…

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13 dangerous Covid myths to avoid…

What’s true and what’s nonsense?

Every time something important or unusual happens, there are myths to bust. Covid is no different, but the risks of getting it wrong can be deadly, not just annoying or embarrassing. Here's a list of the thirteen least helpful, most dangerous Covid 19 myths.

Is the virus the same as a cold or the flu?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a coronavirus, in the same family as the common cold or flu. It shares similarities with other coronaviruses thanks to the spiny projections on its surfaces and the spike proteins it uses to infect people. But while the four coronavirusus that mainly cause colds, called 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1, all have human hosts, the Covid virus shares around 90% of its genetic material with the types of coronaviruses that infect bats. This suggests it developed in bats then spread to humans.

Is the coronavirus less deadly than the flu?

The death rate for COVID-19 remains unclear, but all the research worth taking into account says the death rate is much higher than ordinary seasonal flu, with its death rate of around 600 people in the UK each year.

In the USA around 4% of Covid cases have died so far, according to Johns Hopkins University. They get this number by dividing the deaths by the total number of cases. But not everyone with Covid is being diagnosed thanks to testing limitations in the USA, and the fact that so many cases are symptom-less or mild. We could see the fatality rate go up or down as time passes and we get better at measuring it. But even a fatality rate of just 1% is ten times higher than flu.

Was Covid-19 made in a lab by an evil genius?

There's no evidence to say the virus was made on purpose by humans. Quite the opposite. There are plenty of conspiracy theories circulating around it, but like SARS and MERS the disease clearly originated in bats.
It is a naturally occurring coronavirus that has, like many others, species-jumped between animals and people.

A study published in March by the journal Nature Medicine found the spike protein in Covid has almost certainly emerged in nature , not as a lab-made thing. If an evil scientist or government really wanted to engineer a deadly virus based on SARS, it's highly unlikely they'd have chosen the SARS-CoV-2 mutations we're seeing. They're simply not good enough at helping the virus attach to human cells. It's obvious this disease has mutated perfectly naturally in a completely different way from anything a human scientist could have achieved, or even predicted.

Can pets spread the virus?

Your cat or dog can catch the virus from you, but they can't spread it to other people. April 2020 saw two cats in New York testing positive for COVID-19, whose owner caught it first and passed it to them. There haven't been any confirmed reports of people getting Covid from their pets.

Is is true children can't catch Covid?

No, it's not true, and it's a very dangerous assumption. Children can and do catch the virus, and they can spread it, and a few of them have been very ill because of it, mostly because of underlying conditions. In the USA the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) did a study of over 1.3 million cases. It discovered that the rate of infections in children aged less than nine was just 52 out of 100,000, compared with 400 cases of any age per 100,000 across the population as a whole.

In some rare cases children with a COVID-19 infection have gone on to develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome, also called MIS-C, similar to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease. A June study reported in the USA's New England Journal of Medicine looked into 186 cases of MIS-C in 26 states, 90% of which needed to go into hospital. 80% of these were admitted to intensive care and 2% died.

Will I know if I catch the virus?

Not necessarily. The virus causes such a wide collection of symptoms, and many people don't experience any symptoms at all. It can look a lot like flu, or a common cold, with a fever, cough, headache, sore throat, aches and pains, breathing difficulties, nausea and vomiting. It can also develop into something very like pneumonia. We still don't know how often the disease displays without any symptoms at all. Some experts believe symptom-less infections could make up as many as 40% of the total.

Is there a cure? Can I drink bleach or spray myself with cleaning fluid?

There have been a few dodgy reports about cures, some spread by the President of the USA himself.
All these claims are nonsense. There is no such thing as a cure for Covid, nor is there a vaccine... yet.

It will not do you any good at all drinking bleach or any other disinfectant. They won't protect you from the virus, and will probably make you very poorly indeed. You might even die. Don't spray yourself with bleach either, as some of our less-than-bright US friends have done. Drinking bleach will leave you with something awful called liquefactive necrosis, where your flesh turns to liquid. Nastier still, the sodium in bleach reacts with proteins and fats in your body and turns them into soap – a process called saponification.

We're not quite so naïve over here in the UK, thankfully, but in the USA doctors have reported almost 40% of American adults in a recent survey 'engaging in dangerous cleaning practices' to prevent the virus from getting to them. They've been washing their food with bleach, using household disinfectant on their skin, and inhaling the vapours from cleaning products. Please don't do any of it!

Can Vitamin C supplements stop me getting Covid? Or booze?

No. In the same way Vitamin C won't stop you catching a cold or flu, it won't protect you against the virus. As a rule, no supplements can lower your risk of catching Covid.

Drinking alcohol doesn't help, nor does eating garlic. Drinking alcohol only weakens your immune system, reducing your body's ability to cope with infections. And it's no good swabbing your skin with alcohol, since alcohol does not disinfect your body.

Alcohol isn't as good as ordinary soap at cleaning your hands either, so wash with soap and water rather than a bacterial wash for the best results.

Can I safely order stuff from China?

Yes, you're perfectly safe getting parcels and letters from China. If there was anything to worry about regarding packaging, a parcel from the USA with its high infection rates and very poor record around prevention and control would be a lot more worrying than one from China anyway!

The World Health Organization says it's safe receiving post from China. Coronaviruses don't survive for long on letters and packages, and it's likely this virus is no different. One study showed how Covid could survive on shiny surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for as long as nine days, but packaging is very different. It's likely to die quickly on packaging.

To survive the virus needs the correct temperature, no UVC light, and no humidity — and you won't see that particular combination on any parcel shipped over days or weeks at ambient temperatures. In short, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 in imported goods, and no cases of the virus originating from imported goods.

Can I eat at a Chinese restaurant?

It seems like a crazy question, but it's one people in the USA have been asking. In a word, the answer is 'yes'. You are no safer, or no more in danger eating in a Chinese restaurant than in any other kind of restaurant, serving any kind of food.

Can 5G networks spread the coronavirus?

This conspiracy theory is so silly that we are not going to credit it with the oxygen of publicity! It's a totally, completely, 100% ridiculous idea.

If I'm hot, will it keep me safe?

Temperature doesn't matter. Being hot won't keep you safe. Sunbathe all you like and you can still catch the virus. Sitting by a roaring fire really won't help you to stay safe, nor will a hot bath.

Can mask-wearing poison me with CO2?

Face masks dramatically reduce the spread of cough droplet particles. Without a mask you can spread them at least 12 feet. With a mask they only spread a few inches from your face, keeping others safe from your infection. If we all wear a mask, we all keep each other safer.

You might find a mask uncomfortable but it won't cause you any harm. A mask can't deprive you of oxygen or poison you with CO2. The same applies for N95 masks and cloth face coverings. CO2 is not a concern. It is easily and quickly eliminated by your respiratory and metabolic systems. Just make sure you get masks that fit snugly but let you breathe normally.

Does UVC light kill the virus?

One thing is certain, one thing is proven to be true... and it's very good to know. Our UVC light tech kills the virus safely, cleanly and quickly. You can rely on it. Scientists have confirmed it. So let's talk Covid safety!

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Viruses: the good, the bad, the ugly and the strange

February 23, 2025

Our UVC units kill viruses in just a few minutes, protecting people's wellbeing in all sorts of business and healthcare settings. It's good news when new threats are arising all the time. And it's even better news thanks to research revealing some common winter viruses could trigger heart complications. But as it turns out the viruses inside us, our lifetime companions, are on our side. Weirder still, viruses make sound – and scientists have been listening. Here's the news. The good – 380 trillion viruses inside us Did you know your body is occupied by he numbers of microorganisms? You probably do, since together they make up our 'microbiome', something widely discussed in the media in recent years. While these tiny passengers have evolved alongside humans for millions of years, we've only just begun to quantify the human microbiome. Now we know it includes at least 38 trillion bacteria per human, but the biggest chunk of all is made up of viruses. Estimates say there are at least 380 trillion viruses inside every one of us, a lively, active community called the human virome. Luckily these viruses are not harmful like those that cause flu, covid, Ebola and dengue fever. Many of them, called bacteriophages or 'phages' for short, actually protect us by infecting the bad bacteria that live inside us. Phages live in our protective mucus membranes, the body's physical barrier against invading bacteria. We've lived with them inside us for so long that these days they're an important part of the human immune system. In fact they are so effective they've been used by medical experts to treat dysentery, sepsis, salmonella infections and skin infections for almost 100 years. As time goes by we're beginning to understand more about this remarkable symbiotic relationship. Non-symptomatic herpes viruses, for example, support our killer white blood cells in identifying cancer cells and cells infected by other viral pathogens. Their work benefits the viruses themselves as well as their human hosts, helping them live longer as well as getting rid of competing viruses that might damage their host. The most exciting thing of all is the fact that we might eventually be able to modify these handy little beasts to actually target cancer cells and other nasties. The bad – A virus with 70% mortality lands in the USA A deadly virus whose mortality rate could be as high as 70% has been found in the US for the first time. The Camp Hill virus has been spotted in shrews in Alabama, a sign that always worries scientists because, like all viruses, it could find a way to species-hop into humans. Australian fruit bats are the usual hosts for the virus, so it's concerning to find it inside a different mammal on a different continent. The Camp Hill virus is a henipaviruses from a family that includes the Nipah and Hendra viruses, which kill 40-75% of those they infect. So far the Camp Hill virus hasn't been seen in humans. We don't know what the death rate would be if it did infect humans but it's a lot like the Langya virus, which crossed from shrews to humans in China to cause fever, fatigue, coughs and aches, liver dysfunction and kidney damage. As you can imagine experts are keeping a close eye on the situation. The ugly – Winter viruses could cause heart and stroke issues The American Heart Association says some common viruses have been linked to increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, with the biggest risk occurring within three days of being infected and an increased risk for as long as three months. Because viruses provoke inflammation they can either lead to cardiac problems or make existing problems worse. When the body's immune system creates inflammation to fight a virus, the inflammation can accidentally cause harm to the tissue of the heart. And that makes avoiding common illnesses like flu, norovirus and covid more important than ever. The strange – Virus talk Did you know viruses talk? They emit sound waves at a frequency 1 million times higher than our ears can pick up, as discovered by chemists and microbiologists at Michigan State University, USA. Apparently the team has even picked up tiny, weeny natural vibration frequencies made by individual viruses by bouncing light off them to 'see' vibration patterns. Having examined the vibrations of single virus particles at room temperature using ultrafast spectroscopy, the team discovered every type of virus vibrates in its own unique way, distinct from each other and all the others tested. This means one day we may be able to use these 'bio-sonics' to scan a room, detect viruses in the air, and identify them so tech like our UVC sanitising units can be deployed to kill them. It's good to be prepared for the worst. If you'd like to keep your premises clean, safe and hygienic using the magic of UVC light at a wavelength so powerful it kills pathogens in no time, let's talk. Not All Viruses Are Bad For You. Here Are Some That Can Have a Protective Effect : ScienceAlert Meet the 380 trillion viruses inside your body New virus discovered in Alabama raises pandemic fears Viruses make sound at a frequency 1 million times higher than humans can hear Some winter viruses could trigger heart complications, experts warn

UVC cleaning systems and Avian Flu in humans

February 20, 2025

Bird flu in humans is very rare but it can be serious or even deadly. The United States reported its first bird-flu related death in January 2025. Now a human case of bird flu has been detected in England, someone from from the West Midlands who was infected on a farm where they had close, long-term contact with a lot of infected birds. On the bright side they're being cared for in a 'High Consequence Infectious Disease' or HCID unit, and they're not too ill. A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force for the whole of England and Scotland at noon on Saturday in a bid to mitigate the risk of the disease spreading amongst poultry and other captive birds. As of 26th January 2025 it's a legal requirement for every keeper of birds in Scotland and England to follow strict rules to protect their flocks from avian flu , including keeping birds indoors. The birds that passed the infection on had the DI.2 genotype of bird flu, just one of the viruses circulating in birds in the UK this winter. It's not the same as the strains circulating in both mammals and birds in the USA. The strains that can infect humans in the UK include A(H5N1) and A(H7N9), while H5N1 was the strain responsible for the first US bird flu fatality. The human case was found after the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency found the H5N1 outbreak in a flock of birds, then monitored the people who'd been in close contact with the infected birds, in other words those who are most likely to be infected by it. While there's no evidence of onward transmission from the latest human case, it's important not to touch sick or dead birds – and vital to follow Defra's guidance over reporting suspected avian flu cases. Bird flu is spread by close contact with an infected bird, alive or dead, including touching a dead bird, bird poo or bird bedding, by killing an infected bird or preparing it for cooking. You can’t catch bird flu by eating properly-cooked poultry or eggs, even when there's an outbreak of bird flu. So far there hasn't been a single documented case of human-to-human transmission of bird flu in the UK or EU, though has occasionally happened abroad. Bird flu symptoms usually turn up 3-5 days after exposure and infection, and can include a very high temperature, shivers and aches, a headache, cough or shortness of breath, maybe sickness and diarrhoea, stomach and chest pain, nose and gum bleeds and conjunctivitis. With only seven cases identified in the UK since 2021, the UKHSA says the risk to the public remains 'very low'. It's good to know the UK is prepared and ready to respond, having added the H5 vaccine, which protects against bird flu, to the nation's stockpile. How our UVC units kill pathogens Our proven UVC Cleaning Systems reduce the infections and illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, moulds and other pathogens thanks to equipment that delivers the highest level of quality for multiple applications. Harnessing UVC light at a specific wavelength that destroys the RNA inside pathogens fast, leaving them unable to multiply and making our lights the ultimate environmental disinfectant. Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation and UVC Disinfection Treatments are regulated by the USA's notoriously fussy Environmental Protection Agency, proven as an effective non chemical pesticide, and have been used safely and effectively in UK healthcare settings for decades. Labs using flow hoods for working with pathogens, for example, often have built-in UV lights to kill bacteria or viruses when the hoods aren't being used. Unlike some units whose surface can reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit, ours run on LED bulbs, which means they can't become dangerously hot. So ours don't need internal thermostats and electric cooling fans to keep the equipment at the right operating temperature, which brings the cost down and keeps things simple. Our Direct Fixed Units automatically disinfect the air and surfaces whenever the space is unoccupied, significantly reducing the spread of illnesses. Our Upper Air Germicidal Units are perfect for continuous disinfection when people are present, for example a medical setting or a bird farm. We install the units above peoples heads to stop cross-contamination by viruses and germs by sharply reducing the overall viral load in the air. These Upper Air Germicidal Units mean clean air is the standard, not the exception. Our lights are easy to install, inexpensive to buy and run, and multiple studies suggest it's a safe way to prevent any virus from transmitting, including covid, flu, avian flu, measles, potential future pandemic viruses and new infectious viruses yet to emerge. There's no reason why it won't also kill avian flu in all its various variants, because it is a virus like any other. Let's talk about keeping your business bird flu-safe Antiviral drugs can prevent complications and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill – but the best cure of all is prevention. If you'd like to keep your business safe from the spread of all sorts of horrible human-to-human viruses, we'll be pleased to explain the tech to you, and provide a no-obligation quote.

Big news for long term Far-UVC safety

February 20, 2025

We already know Far-UVC light at 222nm is safe for people's eyes in the shorter term, unlike other UV light wavelengths. Now a three year research project has proved its safety in the long term, with an excellent ocular safety record over 36 months. It looks like the light has no adverse effects at all on vision, eye health or overall eye safety, even following years of exposure. Here's the science, translated into plain language for you. About Far-UVC ultraviolet light UVC decontamination has been used for decades in hospitals, ambulances and waiting rooms, all of which must be continually disinfected. While regular UVC light at 254 nm ( Fluorescent Tubes) is too dangerous for people to be in, 222 nm Far-UVC light delivers continual decontamination perfectly safely with people present, as shown by the long term research we're talking about. Far-UVC has a wavelength of 222 nm, proven to deactivate microorganisms quickly by destroying their RNA. It doesn't get past the outer layer of human skin, or the eye's cornea, both of which the body renews automatically and continually. And that makes it unique when used within the safe limits identified by science. As the new 3 year study reveals, it is perfect for decontaminating occupied spaces. While studies lasting for shorter times have already proved its safety, it is great to know that three years of exposure to Far-UVC light, even when someone is exposed to it every day, is officially deemed harmless. Unless you're a pathogen, of course, in which case... you're dead! About the science The three year test took place in real-world conditions, in an ophthalmology examination room fitted with 222 nm Far-UVC lamps. Four ophthalmologists worked in the room, carefully observed and tested regularly for eye health. The scientists running the study measured visual acuity, the ability to see details at a certain distance, refractive error which makes it hard to see clearly, and overall corneal health. The results were clear and consistent: the safety of 222 nm Far-UVC light for prolonged use in occupied spaces is proven, with no changes in visual acuity, refractive error, cornea health or overall eye health. There were no abnormalities or significant changes, no long term side effects, and no delayed problems turned up afterwards. Why is 222 nm Far-UVC safe for eyes and skin? 222 nm UVC is safe because it can't penetrate the eye or skin, unlike other UVC wavelengths which can cause damage by going a lot deeper. It only touches the outermost layers, which renew naturally after 24-48 hours anyway so there's never any lasting damage. Significant benefits for healthcare settings and patients UVC disinfection tech has already revolutionised decontamination in healthcare settings, being clean, low cost, very low maintenance and highly effective. In hospitals it cuts the risk of healthcare-associated infections. When used alongside normal manual cleaning it dramatically decreases harmful pathogens on high-touch surfaces. In ambulances UVC keeps things safe and sterile, constantly decontaminating the air and the surfaces it touches. In waiting rooms it kills airborne bacteria and viruses, cutting the risk of illnesses spreading a lot better than traditional ventilation. Because it also kills moulds it delivers better air quality to help protect the vulnerable. As you can imagine there are also excellent cost benefits. It cuts the time staff members are off sick and lowers infection rates in patients, providing better outcomes for patients as well as higher operational efficiency. In fact, during the covid pandemic, it was estimated to save around €3.3 million for just one large healthcare premises. Improve productivity, reduce sick days & keep employees happy The results of the study reinforce UVC's role as an excellent solution for continuous decontamination in real-world healthcare contexts, but also for other businesses of every shape, size and flavour. If you want to keep your employees healthy, lose less time to sick days, protect visitors, customers, suppliers and anyone else who enters the premises, our affordable units blend effectiveness and safety to deliver better infection control than any other decontamination technique. Fit FAR-UVC in your business and feel the benefits Less time off sick, better productivity, an intact supply chain at your place and a workforce that knows you genuinely care about their health – that's what our units do for businesses. If you'd like to know more, get in touch.

What are the biggest viral health threats for 2025?

January 14, 2025

There's been a flurry of media interest about new, current and evolving viruses for 2025, including some disturbing reports about bird flu in Canada, Mongolia and the USA. In this post we take a look at the viral health threats we may face in 2025, and reveal how to stay safe from them. The winter norovirus season gets off to a horrible start The media reports on an '80 per cent rise' in severe illness that leaves people feeling totally wiped out, and experts are wondering whether a new antigen might be behind the surge. If so it won't be the only virus to skyrocket this winter, adding to the already heavy burden of flu, regular norovirus, RSV and Covid. There are worries that norovirus in particular might have become more severe, especially since some counties have seen a dramatic increase in norovirus infections. If the new antigen makes it easier for the virus to spread, leads to a more serious illness or both, it could explain the sharp increase in cases. So far we do know that this winter's norovirus seems to be making people more ill than usual, with some GPs seeing entire families out of action because of it and others hospitalised because of dehydration. New HMPV outbreak hits China Human Metapneumovirus is very like a common cold, with coughs and wheezes, a runny nose and a sore throat. Like the common cold, most of the time it's mild but it can be serious in small children, people with weak immune systems and those over 65. Now we're seeing a new HMPV virus outbreak in China, whose symptoms are a bit different. Social media reports from China suggest hospitals are being overwhelmed and crematoriums are full thanks to the outbreak, adding to the country's current winter outbreaks of influenza A, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Covid. Some say they're on the brink of declaring a health emergency. So far there's no vaccine for HMPV. This year's flu virus is a particularly nasty one The 2024-25 flu season is by all accounts a nasty one. One UK Health Security Agency report from late 2024 says flu had already increased compared to the previous season and was circulating at high levels. No wonder more than 4000 of us spent Christmas Day in hospital with flu, and so many others took such a long time to recover. It's partly down to the slump in flu vaccinations. During the Covid pandemic free jabs were offered to all over 50s. Now it is only available to people over 65 and those at special risk. Add the fact that vaccine uptake has dropped, with fewer than 35% of higher risk adults having their flu jab, and you can see why things are headed in an unwanted direction. Too many frontline healthcare staff have also decided not to get the jab at just under 43%, not good news for people in hospital. We need a 90% uptake for the vaccination programme to limit flu outbreaks. On the bright side the current rise isn't unprecedented, not as bad as the 2022-23 season which caused 5000 flu deaths a week in England alone. H5N1 bird flu jumps between animals and humans Scientists have been keeping a careful eye on bird flu for almost 30 years, first identified in geese during 1996. While the virus only causes mild infections in humans, classed as low pathogenic, H5N1 often kills birds so for them it is highly pathogenic. Mongolian horses are in the news for catching H5N1 bird flu, and of course humans can also catch it. We've just seen the first human death from bird flu in the USA. Luckily, so far, human bird flu is rare, usually a 'dead-end infection' because it doesn't spread from human to human. In 2021 it turned up in North America, having evolved from infecting birds to making a wide variety of mammals ill. So far it has spread to 48 species across 26 or more different countries, with massive death tolls for marine mammals as well as land creatures, being called a global pandemic for animals. A Canadian teenager who caught the disease late in 2024 became seriously ill. It turned out that H5N1 had managed to evolve enough to infect cells in her respiratory system. The same goes for the person who caught it in Louisiana, USA. Now infectious disease experts are saying the virus's continual spread is making its transformation into a 'fully human' pathogen more likely. The latest news? On January 10th San Francisco Department of Public Health said a child had caught H5N1 avian flu, origin unknown. We hope the child recovers. UVC sanitising tech does the job So what can you, as a business owner, do to keep your employees safe from these infections, protect your customers, and keep your part of the supply chain going strong? The answer is simple and reliable. Our UVC disinfection tech is affordable, simple, safe, clean, cheap to run, comes with little or no maintenance, and kills a huge list of pathogens stone dead in seconds. If you'd like to know more, get in touch.

Protecting your business with UVC light against HMPV and other viruses

January 10, 2025

In recent times, the human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been making headlines due to its surge in cases, particularly in China. While HMPV is not a new virus, its recent uptick has raised concerns about respiratory illnesses. HMPV is a known respiratory virus that typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, including cough, fever, and nasal congestion. However, it can lead to more severe respiratory issues, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Given the potential for HMPV and other viruses to spread, it's imperative for businesses to implement effective disinfection strategies to protect employees and customers. One such method is the use of UVC light technology. How UVC light works Ultraviolet C (UVC) light, with wavelengths between 200–280 nm, is known for its germicidal properties. When microorganisms are exposed to UVC light, it damages their DNA or RNA, rendering them incapable of replication and effectively neutralising them. This makes UVC light a powerful tool in disinfecting air, surfaces, and water. Beckman Laser Institute Benefits of UVC light for businesses Chemical-free disinfection: UVC light provides a non-chemical method of disinfection, reducing the reliance on potentially harmful cleaning agents. Broad-spectrum efficacy: UVC light is effective against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and moulds. Cost-effective: While the initial investment in UVC equipment is required, it can lead to long-term savings by reducing the need for chemical disinfectants and manual cleaning efforts. Enhanced safety: Regular use of UVC light can help maintain a healthier environment, potentially reducing absenteeism due to illness. Implementing UVC light in your business To effectively incorporate UVC light into your disinfection protocols, consider the following steps: Assess your space: Evaluate the size and layout of your premises to determine the appropriate UVC equipment needed. Choose the right products: Select UVC devices that are suitable for your environment, whether it's a mobile steriliser for flexible use or ceiling-mounted units for continuous operation. Follow safety guidelines: Ensure that all UVC equipment is used according to manufacturer instructions to prevent exposure to harmful UV radiation. Integrate into routine cleaning: Incorporate UVC disinfection into your regular cleaning schedule to maintain consistent hygiene standards. By adopting UVC light technology, businesses can enhance their disinfection efforts, providing a safer environment for all. At Cooltech UVC, we offer a range of UVC sanitising solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Our products are lab-tested and proven to achieve high kill rates against pathogens, including viruses like HMPV. Investing in UVC disinfection not only demonstrates a commitment to health and safety but also positions your business as a responsible and proactive entity in the face of emerging health threats.

Can UVC hygiene take the strain of the next crop of diseases?

December 17, 2024

UVC light is a powerful and potent killer of bacteria, viruses, spores, moulds and other pathogens, so will it also be able to help halt the spread of the new crop of diseases the WHO is warning us about for next year? Every pathogen has to be tested, of course, to see if it really can be killed by UVC light, but the signs are very good indeed. This type of light, at this special wavelength, is deadly to so many communicable diseases, it's likely to kill those on the WHO's latest hit list as well. As the festive season approaches, let's explore the risks humanity faces in 2025. 17 threats on the World Health Organization's latest vaccine development list The WHO has listed 17 disease-causing bacteria, viruses and parasites as top priorities for new vaccine development going forwards. It's the first ever study to globally assess and prioritise these common diseases based on how badly they affect our health regionally and globally. So far the focus of vaccine research has been on commerce, with profit put first. This new WHO report focuses on humanity's needs, not profit. They asked international and regional experts for their vaccine research and development priorities based on disease, deaths, their socioeconomic impact and any existing disease resistance. The resulting list reflects the needs of diverse populations across the planet, revealing ten top priority pathogens for each of the WHO’s six regions. When combined the global list contains 17 urgent common pathogens that are already endemic, already needing urgent action. Three of the most deadly, which together kill almost two and a half million of us a year, are HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, and these remain long standing priorities for vaccine research Joining the list for 2025 is Group A streptococcus, a severe infection that contributes to 280,000 deaths a year from rheumatic heart disease in poorer nations Klebsiella pneumoniae is a newbie, a bacteria associated with 790,000 deaths in 2019 alone and, in poor countries, responsible for 40% of deaths in newborns thanks to sepsis The full WHO Priority endemic pathogens list We need vaccine research for these: Group A streptococcus – UVC is already proved to kill Streptococcus faecalis ATCC29212 and Streptococcus viridans Hepatitis C virus – UVC kills both Hepatitis A HM175 and Infectious Hepatitis HIV-1 Klebsiella pneumoniae – UVC kills both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella terrigena ATCC33257 Vaccines for these need more work: Cytomegalovirus Influenza virus (broadly protective vaccine) – UVC kills the Influenza virus Leishmania species Non-typhoidal Salmonella – UVC already kills Salmonella anatum, derby, enteritidis, infantis, paratyphi, typhosa and typhimurium Norovirus – UVC kills norovirus Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) Shigella species – UVC kills Shigella dyseteriae, flexneri, paradysenteriae, and sonnei ATCC9290 Staphylococcus aureus, which UVC kills along with Staphylococcus albus, hemolyticus, aureus phage A and lactis These vaccines are almost there, on the brink of approval, recommendation or introduction: Dengue virus Group B streptococcus – UVC kills Streptococcus faecalis ATCC29212 and Streptococcus viridans Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli – UVC kills Escherichia coli O157:H7 CCUG 29193 and O157:H7 Mycobacterium tuberculosis Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) The extra risks posed by mass displacement With wars currently displacing millions of people, leaving them in conditions with poor hygiene, vaccines are even more important than ever. Experts say the number of people on the move is going to increase because of poverty, lack of food security, no access to basic healthcare, water shortages, climate change, environments being destroyed, and natural disasters. Refugees and migrants' health issues are made worse by a lack of hospitals, medicines and doctors plus language barriers, different cultures, discrimination, social and economic exclusion, poverty, homelessness and exploitation, all of which make disease more likely and will help spread diseases faster. Different ways for diseases to spread Pathogens are transmitted to humans in different ways, originating in different animals. The source of SARS-CoV-2, for example, is still a mystery, although bats and pangolins are probably its natural hosts. Both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV originate in bats, SARS-CoV transmitted to humans by the Palm Civet and MERS-CoV by Arabian camels. Filoviruses originate in bats before being spread to humans by wildlife. Rift Valley fever virus comes from mosquitoes, spread to humans by cows. Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus originates in ticks before being spread to humans by cows and other domestic animals. Lassa fever virus (LASV) originates in a kind of mouse, Zika virus comes from mosquitoes, Nipah comes from bats and is spread to humans via pigs, the list goes on. How does UVC disinfection help in this complex context? UVC light safely kills pathogens quickly and efficiently in the air and on every surface it touches. This makes our UVC hygiene units an excellent choice for healthcare settings, which is why it is already used by so many hospitals around the world and has been relied on for so many decades. Bring safe, clean, effective UVC hygiene to your healthcare business, food production business or any other setting where hygiene is critical and you'll enjoy low cost tech that's easy to fit, costs next to nothing to run because the light is emitted by LEDs, and contains no nasty chemicals. It's a dazzlingly good way to keep people safe from disease. PS. We'd like to wish our customers a happy, profitable and peaceful Christmas and an excellent 2025.

Two horrible bacteria killed FAST by UVC light

November 19, 2024

Our UVC Kill List is long and impressive, testament to how good UV light at this special wavelength is at killing pathogens and other infectious agents stone dead, fast. This time we’re taking a tour of two spores you really don’t want in your life: Bacillus anthracis - also known as Anthrax - and Clostridioides difficile - also called C. Diff. Protect your business with our UVC hygiene units and if either of these horrors finds its way indoors, it won’t be able to make employees ill or put your customers at risk. About Bacillus anthracis – the spore that causes anthrax Anthrax can cause severe illness in people and animals, and the bacterium that causes it lives naturally in the soil everywhere on our planet. It usually gets passed onto humans via infected animals or contaminated animal products. Maybe you breathe anthrax spores in, eat food or drink water contaminated with the spores, or it finds its way under your skin via a graze or cut. The type of illness that develops depends on how the anthrax spores get into your body in the first place: the skin, lungs, or gastrointestinal system. If left untreated, however it gets in, the illness can kill. Cutaneous Anthrax happens when the spores get into a cut or graze and under the skin, often when someone’s handling animal wool, hair or hide. This is the commonest and also the least dangerous type of infection. First you see itchy blisters or bumps, then a big swelling at the source of the infection followed by large painless circular lumps with an ugly black centre on the face, arms hands or neck. Gastrointestinal Anthrax is caught by eating raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal, and it’s relatively rare in the West. It affects the throat, oesophagus, stomach and intestines. You get fever and chills, swollen neck glands and a sore throat, which give way to hoarseness, nausea and vomiting or bloody vomit, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, a headache, red face and eyes, a painful swollen stomach and fainting spells. Inhalation Anthrax happens when you breathes anthrax spores into your lungs, the most deadly type of all and found in workplaces like mills, slaughterhouses and tanneries. It starts off in the lymph nodes in the chest then spreads to the rest of the body. You first get fever and chills, then heavy sweating followed by a painful chest and a cough or difficulties breathing. Confusion, dizziness, head and body aches, then nausea and vomiting, stomach pains and extreme exhaustion follow. Welder’s Anthrax has only just been discovered, a rare disease found in metalworkers. It causes serious pneumonia and can be fatal, kicking off with fever, chills, a sudden cough and chest pain, leading to breathing difficulties and even coughing up blood. However you catch it, anthrax can show up anything from just one day to two months after exposure, which sometimes makes it a challenge to pin down the source. About Clostridioides difficile – C. diff C. diff causes diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, and it too can be deadly. It can infect anyone of any age and mostly turns up when you've been taking antibiotics for something else. It’s the biggest cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalised people. You’re as much as 10 times more likely to get C. diff while on antibiotics and for a month afterwards. Because antibiotics kill all bacteria, not just the dangerous ones, the worst infections are given a window of opportunity to thrive. The longer you take antibiotics the greater the risk of catching C. Diff, and people aged over 65 and those with a compromised immune system are at the most risk. The bacterium causes around 14,000 cases a year in the UK and one in six people get it for a second time 2-8 weeks later. One in eleven people die within a month of having the disease. Diarrhea, fever and a tender or painful stomach join a poor appetite and nausea to make you feel awful. In a serious case the complications include dehydration, colitis, toxic megacolon or even sepsis, which can kill. Found in excrement as well as floating around in the indoor environment, the dormant spores can last for years. Only when they get inside the intestines do they activate to cause illness. It’s treated with special antibiotics like vancomycin or fidaxomicin, taken for at least 10 days. You might have to go to hospital and if you’ve had it once, you can easily get it several more times. C. diff tends to turn up in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes, which is why so many healthcare businesses already use UVC light to keep patients, staff and visitors safe. Stop worrying, start using our UVC disinfection units Low cost, easy to fit, low on energy use with little or no maintenance, our UVC units are proven to kill both of these nasties in minutes, in the air and on every surface the light touches. If your business could be affected by either disease, get in touch for an inspiring conversation about killing both of them along with a multitude more spores, bacteria, viruses and moulds.

Cool-Tech Ltd
Unit 1 & 2, Four Ashes Farm
Badwell Road
Walsham le Willows
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP31 3BT

+44 1379 658 721

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