DuPont™ Rely+On™ Virkon® Controls Avian and Human Influenza

With the threat of Avian Influenza moving steadily westwards from Asia with the migratory wildfowl, leading infection control specialists, DuPont, are taking action to build up supplies of the leading disinfectant Rely+On™ Virkon® in case the predicted human flu pandemic becomes a tragic reality.

Although a small number of cases of Avian Influenza have been recorded in the human population, experts world-wide are concerned that H5N1 strain of the orthomyxovirus could mutate and exchange genes with human influenza viruses to create a potentially highly virulent new strain. Unlike the H5N1 strain, it is thought that this new virus could more easily transmit infection from person to person as with current human influenza strains. As humans have no immunity to the new strain, the concern is for a world-wide pandemic.

Proven highly effective against the Avian Influenza and Norovirus families, Rely+On™ Virkon® plays a key role in the protection of health workers, patients and the general public. As a hard surface disinfectant with excellent materials compatibility, Rely+On™ Virkon®offers infection control staff and clinical teams a fast-acting disinfectant to prevent the spread of nosocomial infection and decontaminate infected materials and spills. Rely+On™ Virkon® has an excellent user and environmental safety profile.

Rely+On™ Virkon® S, the veterinary equivalent of Rely+On™ Virkon®, is recognized by governments world-wide as a disinfectant of choice for Emergency Disease Control. During the 2003 Avian Influenza outbreak in the Netherlands, Rely+On™ Virkon® S was the only disinfectant purchased by the Dutch authorities (the RVV). This decision followed expert consultation with other global governmental bodies.

It is known that the H5N1 strain has environmental persistence of up to 3 months, which means an infection control strategy of environmental and surface decontamination is key as it is for norovirus outbreaks in healthcare settings.

DuPont UK Technical Sales Manager, David Izatt, explains, "If a serious outbreak of human Influenza does result from the current Avian Influenza crisis, Rely+On™ Virkon® is approved for use by healthcare professionals and emergency personnel to control the hazards of nosocomial infections. To ensure that disinfectant supplies are readily available for such a crisis, DuPont is building up supplies of Rely+On™ Virkon®for both use in hospital and veterinary settings."