Prevention of Viral Transmission by Infrared Techniques

Abstract

While vaccine and drug studies for virus based illnesses (COVID-19, SARS, MERS etc.) are carried out by scientists working in scientific research institutions in many countries, mutated viruses can weaken the fight against the pandemic. Therefore prevention and disinfection of virus spread have gained importance for human health. This paper presents a solution for prevention of viral transmission by physical techniques. Infrared (IR) technique has been put forward over other disinfection techniques such as ultraviolet (UV) and chemical disinfectants (alcohol), because it is healthy.In this study, IR sources with various wavelengths have been characterized and far infrared (FIR) source has been used to inactivate the viruses. FIR source has a therapeutic effect on human body already and has some applications in medical centres. Virus spread is highly effected by environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and air flow. A set up with IR sources, IR camera, automatic controlled humidity chamber and air flow unit has been constructed. The enveloped Phi6 model bacteriophage (a well-studied bacteriophage previously suggested as good, safe, and easy to work with, as model surrogate for studying surface and air survival of pathogenic viruses) has been used in order to simulate COVID-19 viruses. IR radiation have been applied for various temperatures, humidity and air flows for different durations and distances on Phi6 bacteriophage stock solution. All measurements have been conducted in a laboratory with controlled environmental temperature and humidity. Temperature of the surface where Phi6 Bacteriophage applied, has been measured by IR camera system. IR applied samples have been processed for plaque assay preparation and counting. Measurements have been carried out in order to reduce and eliminate droplets, which are one of the transmission paths of the virus, and to inactivate the virus, by using IR radiation in closed and open air conditions where an appropriate humidity and temperature conditions were provided.The study has showed that viruses have been inactivated by FIR application clearly. Inactivation has been achieved approximately 89.5 % for 50% RH for 3 h application in closed environmental chamber at 1.4 m height and 45.7 % for 0.20 m/s air flow for 10 min in open air conditions at 1.0 m height.

Note:
Funding: Presented activities have been supported by the framework of the TÜBİTAK COVID-19 projects VirYAP (Reduction of Virus Spread) Project (G1MM-YOG0004) that received funding from the TUBİTAK UME.

Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Keywords: Virus transmission, COVID-19, infrared, Prevention, Infectious disease, Phi6 bacteriophage