A Practical and Ethical Alternative
Vapour Science proposes a new approach to managing Avian Flu outbreaks, challenging the reliance on large quarantine zones and mass euthanasia.
We believe that poultry sheds equipped with our viral control system can shield birds from all strains of Avian Flu and help prevent disease spread within contained flocks.
The current response feels unnecessarily severe, and we suggest that with the right protection in place, a smaller quarantine zone and more limited euthanasia may be both practical and ethical. We have demonstrated that our spatial method can eliminate lipid-enveloped viruses in real time under laboratory conditions, and we would welcome the opportunity to test this theory in a real-world setting.
Based on the findings from the recent study titled "Control of Aerosolised Type A Influenza Virus H1N1 and a Coronavirus with Vapours Containing Catmint Essential Oil", there is compelling evidence to support the integration of Vapour Science's technology into avian influenza control strategies.
Enhancing Avian Influenza Control with Catmint Oil Vapours
The study demonstrated that vapours containing hydrogenated catmint oil (HCO) significantly reduced the viability of aerosolised H1N1 influenza viruses. Specifically, exposure to HCO vapours resulted in a 3.00 ± 0.07 log₁₀ reduction in H1N1 virus titres within just 2 minutes. Transmission electron microscopy further revealed that the HCO vapours disrupted the viral envelopes, leading to a reduction in viral particle size and integrity.
Given that avian influenza viruses, such as H5N1, are also lipid-enveloped, it is plausible that HCO vapours would exert a similar disruptive effect on these pathogens. This suggests that deploying Vapour Science's HCO-based vapour systems in poultry environments could serve as an effective measure to inactivate airborne avian influenza viruses, thereby reducing transmission risks.
Incorporating this technology into existing biosecurity protocols offers a proactive approach to disease management, potentially minimizing the need for extensive quarantine zones and mass culling. By targeting the virus directly in the air, this method addresses one of the primary transmission routes, enhancing overall control measures.