There is an already available delivery system for killing coronavirus in the air. Nobody's been listening since March. This is a truly a blog like post, and not, unlike the others, focused on research. It's merely a practical step that nobody seems to be thinking about; at least, I haven't heard about it.
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The New York Times article, Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over refers to a new study, showing how flushing toilets can cause a potentially infectious spray of coronavirus, which has been found in feces in over one quarter the samples of patients in this study in China. [Cite]
It is also found in diarrhea of people who have h. pylori, although h. pylori is more delicate than coronavirus, and dies quickly. []
I've been studying h. pylori casually, and have been trying to make people aware of this vector, but the Center for Disease Control doesn't accept information easily. And it wasn't the job of the FDA, not being a food or a drug.
I found a delivery system to combat this, one that is already available in every major market in the country. I sent the idea to a member of Shark Tank, to a Senator's office and representatives, and a number of other places, anyone who would listen really.
So far, nobody's listened.
I contacted the manufacturer, and was told that I have to get my own patent on their product before I can give them the idea for free to save lives.
I got frustrated.
All we need is to take already available automatic room freshener sprayers, find out what kills these germs, something like Lysol would at least be an improvement, although something as minimal as vinegar might be enough. Some substance that can be sprayed in the air that isn't dangerous to humans.
For substances which are more dangerous to humans, but very effective against coronavirus, there would still be uses in hospital bathrooms, with a sign warning people to not spend and excessive time in the bathrooms without their masks on. Only chemicals which do not pass through the masks should be used under this circumstance.
It has been found that there is a significant amount of coronavirus in some hospital bathrooms during the outbreak; this could reduce the risk for contamination was in the hospital, protecting both patients and healthcare workers.
Someone still has to test to see what kills coronavirus, and possibly later h-pylori, from the spray which toilets throw into the air, which is compatible with an aerosol spray delivery system.
But once that is done, all that is left to do is patent it, and provide the information to it companies who make the aerosol sprays already.
In other words, the idea is straightforward and simple, and could save lives, but it requires a little research, and a lot of paperwork. Then it can go into production, when it might not be needed anymore for this round of the pandemic, or maybe just for the tail end.
But at the least, for h pylori, and for further outbreaks, further pandemics, it will be available.
© Deborah Barges, July 2020, reprintable and usable per open access rules.