Abstract
The recovery of the virus of influenza A from artificially infected air 1 showed that air-borne transmission of this agent is possible. Exposure of ferrets to infected air proved that the virus can be transmitted by this route. 2 , 3 The development of a new technic for the study of experimental air-borne infection 4 permitted the exposure of ferrets and mice to the infected air on a quantitative basis and typical disease followed the inhalation of the air-borne influenza virus. 5 It was found that ultraviolet irradiation of the infected air destroyed the virus 1 and disease did not develop in animals exposed to air-borne virus thus treated. 5
Sterilization of air by aerosols has been attempted, using various bacteria and fungi as test organisms but only a preliminary statement regarding their effect on viruses has been published. 9 In a recent study Robertson and his coworkers 10 demonstrated the successful application of glycols as aerosols to the destruction of bacteria suspended in air as shown by plating methods. The present paper adds the virus of influenza A to the group of infectious agents attacked by propylene glycol aerosols. The direct animal test, i. e., the exposure of mice to the infected air treated with this reagent was the experimental method used.
Briefly the technic employed was as follows: One atomizer flask 4 contained the virus suspension, another either propylene glycol or water as control. The air-streams from both of the atomizer flasks carrying the atomized materials were mixed in a 5 liter bottle and the mixture was introduced into the infection chamber. 4 The air was forced through the system instead of being aspirated by an incinerating chimney. With 0.2 to 0.3 cubic foot of air passing through the apparatus per minute a complete turnover of the air was accomplished in 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
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