Commercially available soaps and detergents could kill the bird flu virus that causes extensive damage to poultry and can infect humans, scientists in Pakistan report [...] in the 28 March issue of Virology Journal. [They] reveal that simply washing poultry shed floors and equipment, transport vehicles and workers’ clothing can go a long way in containing the virus.
The scientists [...] tested the effect of common soap brands such as Lifebuoy and detergents such as Surf Excel, as well as heat, ultraviolet light and pH [...]. They found that common soap and detergent brands can kill the virus at a minimum soap/detergent concentration of 0.1 per cent in 5 minutes, and almost immediately at higher concentrations.
Other disinfectants such as formalin, iodine and phenol kill the virus in 15 minutes at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 per cent. But heating the virus-infected samples or treating them with ultraviolet light – previously recommended by some virologists and agricultural agencies – took much longer time.
[...] Akbar Shahid, leading author of the study and a microbiologist at the Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi, [said] that although simple washing measures can contain the virus and prevent spread of infection, infected birds still need to be vaccinated.
Source: A. A. Khan, SciDev.Net, 09 Apr 2009
