Cold plasma to eliminate viral diseases in swine industry

The University of Michigan has developed a cold plasma reactor capable of inactivating, in a fraction of a second, a virus that causes one of the most problematic diseases for the swine industry.

This is the first cold plasma study to eradicate an airborne virus that affects and causes illnesses in animals. During the laboratory tests, the cold plasma reactor was used and it was observed that, by irradiating the air circulation containing the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSv) with fragments of charged and highly reactive molecules, the viruses were inactivated up to 95% or eliminated during treatment.

According to experts, this number is likely to improve with readjustments in the reactor, since this disease (PRRSv) causes large losses –around 650 million dollars– to the pork meat industry in the United States each year and investing in research makes perfect sense.

Herek Clark, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Michigan, is responsible for designing the cold plasma reactor. He, together with his team, demonstrated the effectiveness and performance of the reactor on the virus (PRRSv), reaching 95% of inactivation and elimination of viral particles. These results were published in July 2020 in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, but the first publication was in 2017, by the study sponsors themselves, The National Pork Board.

In other tests carried out a year ago, Clark and his team tested the reactor with a harmless virus in humans, achieving results of 99.9% deactivation or elimination of viral particles.

With regard to the fight against COVID-19, this research could have very favorable repercussions in terms of air sterilization in inhabited closed spaces, starting with swine farms, public transport (by land, air and sea) or centers of social gathering. Clark claims that, eventually, this technology could be replaced with current surgical masks and be complementary protection while becoming effective along with vaccines.

More information can be found on: www.plasmawise.com

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