Demonstration of "inactivation of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus" using photocatalytic technology
Caltech Co., Ltd. and the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, led by Project Professor Hazama, have jointly demonstrated the inactivation of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses using photocatalytic technology with the University of Miyazaki.
■ Background
Recently, the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza has led to the frequent need for mass culling at poultry farms. Since its founding, Caltech has been developing and selling photocatalytic sterilization and deodorization equipment, and has also worked to develop a photocatalytic sterilization and deodorization machine suitable for installation at poultry farms to contribute to the stable sharing of poultry meat and egg products, and has demonstrated the effectiveness of photocatalytic inactivation.
Comment from researcher Yoko Hazama (Specially Appointed Professor, Department of Global Infectious Disease Control, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses cause enormous economic damage worldwide and threaten food safety and security. In recent years, cases of infection from cattle to humans have been reported, making countermeasures essential. In particular, preventing infection is important in Japan, where a "stamping-out" policy of not using vaccines is in place. We hope that this study, which demonstrated the inactivation of HPAI using photocatalysts, will contribute to future HPAI countermeasures.