Tokyo, August 18, 2009
SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. has already demonstrated through joint research with public institutions, the effectiveness of its electrolyzed water technology, developed over many years, to suppress various viruses including seasonal influenza. Now the company has confirmed through joint research with the Gunma Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences that this technology is also highly effective for suppressing the new H1N1 (swine flu) virus that has been spreading around the world since the spring. SANYO will continue to pursue more research and applications for electrolyzed water technology, based on the verification data obtained through the recent joint research.
1. Recently demonstrated effects of electrolyzed water
SANYO confirmed that its electrolyzed water technology is at least 99% effective in suppressing infectivity*4 for a clinical strain of the new H1N1 influenza virus
(1)What is the new H1N1 virus?
New H1N1, or swine flu, is the new pandemic influenza virus that began spreading around the world in the spring of 2009. It causes symptoms such as high fever, muscle aches, and runny nose. Younger people are particularly prone to the new virus, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared a phase-six global pandemic alert.
(2)What is a clinical strain of new H1N1?
The clinical strain of the new H1N1 is a viral strain collected from swine flu patients. Through genetic testing of this virus, it has been confirmed as the new H1N1 virus that has been spreading around the world.
2. Details of the demonstrated effects
(1) Effectiveness of electrolyzed water to reduce new H1N1 viral infectivity
The verification testing on the effectiveness of electrolyzed water to reduce the infectivity of the new H1N1 virus confirmed a 99% or greater suppression of infectivity for the new H1N1 influenza virus. The testing was conducted by exposing the virus to electrolyzed water with a free chlorine concentration of 2 mg/L, for ten minutes.
Testing method: A suspension of new H1N1 influenza virus was exposed to electrolyzed water with a free chlorine concentration of 2 mg/L for 10 minutes, and the viral infectivity reduction effect was evaluated. Measurement method: The viral infectivity (TCID50) measurement method*5 was employed using Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK cells). Joint research institution: Gunma Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences
(2) Mechanism for suppression of the new H1N1 influenza virus using electrolyzed water (presumed)
From the testing results for the infectivity reduction effect of electrolyzed water, the effectiveness of the virus washer technology was confirmed for the new H1N1 influenza virus, just as it had been confirmed for the seasonal influenza virus. It is presumed that viral infectivity is suppressed, due to the denaturing and break down of the viral protein necessary for infection, through a reaction of that protein with two types of active oxygen (electrolyzed hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radicals) present in electrolyzed water.
Remarks
Kunihisa Kozawa, Head of the Gunma Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environmental Sciences:
Respiratory viruses including the new H1N1 influenza virus are spread through droplet and airborne transmission. As a result, the rapid elimination of airborne viruses is thought that it is effective. Since the viral suppression effect of air purifiers is not visible to the naked eye, it is important to use technology that has been scientifically proven. The recent results are very significant as the first research to scientifically demonstrate that electrolyzed water inactivates the new influenza virus (H1N1).
Tags: anolyte, Electrolyzed Water, h1n1, Swine Flu
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