Copper and copper alloys destroy norovirus -- an infectious "vomiting" bug that sickens more than 267 million people worldwide, British researchers say. Lead researcher Bill Keevil of the University of Southampton said the norovirus causes acute gastroenteritis -- stomach flu -- and it is spread via contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact and from touching contaminated surfaces. Surfaces made from copper could effectively shut down one avenue of infection, Keevil said. Keevil, who presented his work at the American Society for Microbiology's General Meeting, said norovirus was rapidly destroyed on copper and its alloys, with those containing more than 60 percent copper proving particularly effective. "Copper alloy surfaces can be employed in high-risk areas such as cruise ships and nursing homes, where norovirus outbreaks are hard to control because infected people can't help but contaminate the environment with vomiting and diarrhea," Keevil said in a statement. "The virus can remain infectious on solid surfaces and is also resistant to many cleaning solutions. That means it can spread to people who touch these surfaces, causing further infections and maintaining the cycle of infection. Copper surfaces, like door handles and taps, can disrupt the cycle and lower the risk of outbreaks."
GMT 10:31 2018 Tuesday ,13 November
Russian police uproot 70 underground drug labs in past six monthsGMT 16:32 2018 Tuesday ,06 November
Rwanda aims to achieve universal access to clean water by 2024GMT 16:57 2018 Sunday ,04 November
Palestinian women witness higher cure rate of breast cancerGMT 13:11 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
Emergency surgery saves life of touristGMT 10:44 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
Scientists find microplastics in human stool for first timeGMT 09:18 2018 Tuesday ,23 October
US judge upholds Monsanto weedkiller cancer verdict, reduces payoutGMT 14:22 2018 Friday ,19 October
Birth spacing ‘improving health of Omani women’GMT 15:40 2018 Monday ,15 October
Pakistani president launches nationwide anti-measles driveMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor