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Wednesday, March 25. 2020Virus infoFor what it's worth, I found this useful. There are several typos and some sentences don't make sense, but I suspect English may have been the second language for the author. You'll get the ideas, which are accurate and helpful. This is from an Asst. Prof in infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins University. In our community chat, here, they sent this excellent summary to avoid contagion. I share it with you because it is very clear: The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code. (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells. Since the virus is not a living organism but a protein molecule, it is not killed, but decays on its own. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and type of material where it lies. The virus is very fragile; the only thing that protects it is a thin outer layer of fat. That is why any soap or detergent is the best remedy, because the foam CUTS the FAT (that is why you have to rub so much: for 20 seconds or more, to make a lot of foam). By dissolving the fat layer, the protein molecule disperses and breaks down on its own. HEAT melts fat; this is why it is so good to use water above 25 degrees Celsius for washing hands, clothes and everything. In addition, hot water makes more foam and that makes it even more useful. Alcohol or any mixture with alcohol over 65% DISSOLVES ANY FAT, especially the external lipid layer of the virus. Any mix with 1 part bleach and 5 parts water directly dissolves the protein, breaks it down from the inside. Oxygenated water helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine, because peroxide dissolves the virus protein, but you have to use it pure and it hurts your skin. NO BACTERICIDE SERVES. The virus is not a living organism like bacteria; they cannot kill what is not alive with anthobiotics, but quickly disintegrate its structure with everything said. NEVER shake used or unused clothing, sheets or cloth. While it is glued to a porous surface, it is very inert and disintegrates only between 3 hours (fabric and porous), 4 hours (copper, because it is naturally antiseptic; and wood, because it removes all the moisture and does not let it peel off and disintegrates). ), 24 hours (cardboard), 42 hours (metal) and 72 hours (plastic). But if you shake it or use a feather duster, the virus molecules float in the air for up to 3 hours, and can lodge in your nose. The virus molecules remain very stable in external cold, or artificial as air conditioners in houses and cars. They also need moisture to stay stable, and especially darkness. Therefore, dehumidified, dry, warm and bright environments will degrade it faster. UV LIGHT on any object that may contain it breaks down the virus protein. For example, to disinfect and reuse a mask is perfect. Be careful, it also breaks down collagen (which is protein) in the skin, eventually causing wrinkles and skin cancer. [DB added this link regarding UVC light: https://www.insider.com/does-uv-light-kill-germs] The virus CANNOT go through healthy skin. Vinegar is NOT useful because it does not break down the protective layer of fat. NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%. LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol. The more confined the space, the more concentration of the virus there can be. The more open or naturally ventilated, the less. This is super said, but you have to wash your hands before and after touching mucosa, food, locks, knobs, switches, remote control, cell phone, watches, computers, desks, TV, etc. And when using the bathroom. You have to HUMIDIFY HANDS DRY from so much washing them, because the molecules can hide in the micro cracks. The thicker the moisturizer, the better. * Also keep your NAILS SHORT so that the virus does not hide there.
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As to water temperature for washing, 25°C is 77°F, so the water needs to be warmer than room temperature, but according to this source not by much.
From a friend of mine who's been sitting in on grand rounds that the University of Maryland has been putting on in Colorado (not sure why there but that's where he is). I've tweaked his wording a bit for the purposes of making it sound less conversational:
"The majority of us will eventually be exposed over the coming weeks/months/years. The young and healthy (if they have any symptoms and a fair portion of those under 65 won't have any at all) will experience a mild but dry cough, runny nose, fatigue, and general body ache. I've seen some stuff where a smaller percentage of the population also gets diarrhea. The real issue is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which may occur if you have preexisting conditions in your lungs or cardiovascular system. Those who experience ARDS will have shortness of breath and develop pathophysiological changes in the lungs which may require hospitalization and other forms of intensive care, including a respirator. Incubation is about two weeks. You can be contagious and not terribly symptomatic, which is what makes this disease so nefarious. Even so, it is a somewhat small percentage of individuals in the at-risk category who are getting really sick." FWIW ^ additional side point, alcohol is listed as an inert ingredient
This pretty much squares with what I've heard from epidemiologists and virologists when I was still involved with disaster planning. It's also consistent with what I've heard them say since then, at least when they've had the chance to finish a thought.
My sister, a biochemist, also comments that it would be better to go for higher than 170 proof. She uses straight ethanol at 180 proof, and mixes it 90% alcohol, 10% aloe vera. Thanks for this post, Doctor. I appreciate the substance over the sensationalism, even if the author's grasp of English is a bit less than what we're used to. The message is certainly clear enough. Actually, COVID-19 is an RNA virus and not a DNA virus.
Also, it's probably not a good idea to have a sentence about alcohol followed by an explanation that involves bleach lest some "clever" individual decide to make a super virus killer and mix the two. This is made even worse by following these sentences with "Oxygenated water (peroxide) helps long after soap, alcohol and chlorine..." giving some the idea that mixing these might help. MIXING THINGS IS A NO NO UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR CERTAIN IT IS SAFE, IE IT'S UNSAFE UNTIL PROVEN OTHERWISE. My 9th grade Chemistry a long distant memory (55 years or so).... I think mixing bleach and alcohol will produce chloroform. Well, something pretty nasty anyway. Spot on. If you don't know it is safe to mix household 'chemicals' (everything is a chemical, yadda yadda yadda), don't do it.
Looked it up, yuppers. Chloroform i learned a lot , liked the reinforcement on hand washing
some people do not wash hands much and they go around using touch points and do not realize that they can just scratch their face and infect themselves, This virus is so small a regular microscope can not see it it requires a electron microscope. Thank you one and all for some actual facts and common sense regarding a serious subject (Covid-19). This subject is usually characterized by massive amounts of Stupid. Interestingly, Maggie's Farm is one of the very few reliable sources of information at this time. Go figure.
An actual comment: Use SOAP (e.g. Ivory) not a detergent bar or "hand sanitizer". Detergents are surfactants...they make water wetter. To dissolve the fat encasing most viruses (viri) one should use soap. Soap is a product of fat and an alkaline (e.g. animal fat and Sodium Hydroxide). The "excess" alkaline in soap dissolves fats and oils on whatever is washed. This is not necessarily true of most sanitizers. They are antibacterial and not usually antiviral. Also, 20 seconds is a proper washing. Be sure to get under fingernails. A good timer is to sing "Yankee Doodle". Done with the song and you're done with washing. My daughter worked in a sushi joint as a waitress at the age of 18. While in the restaurant kitchen, she was splattered with just a tiny amount of hot frying oil. Without thinking, she touched the spot on her face with fishy hands and by the next morning she was in the ER with a nearly fatal case of cellulitis. The doctor explained how facial infections can lead to a quick painful death. She is to this day, at age 33, still susceptible to dangerous skin infections and washes her hands like a surgeon, and about as often.
Factually untrue. If or she can't get either of these right I can't trust anything he or she says.
[i]LISTERINE IF IT SERVES! It is 65% alcohol. [i] 21.6% in the flavored product and 26.9% in the original gold Listerine Antiseptic and more bullshit [i]NO SPIRITS, NOR VODKA, serve. The strongest vodka is 40% alcohol, and you need 65%.[i] #5 Balkan Vodka — 176 Proof Nearly flavorless, you might not even notice that a bottle of Balkan Vodka is 88 percent alcohol. Photo Credit: Shutterstock #4 Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe — 179 Proof Drinking this bottle of absinthe — made in the Czech Republic — straight wouldn’t be a smart idea, as it contains 89.9 percent alcohol. Photo Credit: Shutterstock #3 Bruichladdich X4 Quadrupled Whisky — 184 Proof This Scottish whisky is based on the seventeenth-century method of quadruple distilling and is slated as the most alcoholic single malt ever made, containing 92 percent alcohol. Photo Credit: Shutterstock #2 Everclear — 190 Proof Everclear, made in the United States, was the first 190-proof #1 Spirytus — 192 Proof Polish-made Spirytus vodka — 96 percent alcohol — is the strongest bottle of liquor sold in the world. Everclear. 190 proof, that is pretty strong stuff. All kollage kids know about Everclear, even if they don't know what the Constitution is.
To the doctor's defense, he may not realize that cask-proof liqour is available in stores. It's not that common. And when I was reading up on how to make lemoncello I also learned that some states don't allow the sale of Everclear. Regarding Listerine he's saying it will work if it's 65% alcohol.
Nothing here to disprove his overall message. I caught most of those errors as well and came to the same conclusion about the author. Very disturbing that a professor at Johns Hopkins made this many factual errors in a brief set of instructions.
I carry a small spray bottle filled with Everclear in my pocket. I can disinfected a door handle before I touch it, I can disinfect my hand after I touch it. Everclear evaporates very quickly so you can even spray it on your clothing.
When the plague passes we'll celebrate with the leftovers. This [url=http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/commentary-covid-19-transmission-messages-should-hinge-science ]commentary on the science of transmission[/url] was very good to me.
Doesn't alter what is here, except to look more closely at close-range aerosol transmission in confined spaces. That is, breathing the virus over a period of time so you build a dose in your lungs. Virus particles in spittle, can dry, become smaller and remain in the air for breathing by those who enter the space. I'm leaning toward this as the mode of transmission. Doesn't mean you don't wash your hands or stay away from direct aerosol transmission. This part was very interesting, essentially a formal anecdotal from China. Seems health care workers need to be much more careful in changing clothes so they don't fluff virus into the air and breath it in. QUOTE: As well, another recent non-peer-reviewed article demonstrates that COVID-19 aerosols can be present in healthcare settings.24 Air sampling followed by analysis for RNA concentrations found no SARS-CoV-2 in the intensive care unit, critical care unit, and patient areas of a Wuhan hospital designated for patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms, thought to be due to negative-pressure ventilation and high air exchange rates. Low concentrations (6 copies/m3) were found in medical staff areas. Aerosols were found in two separate size ranges: 0.25 to 1 µm, and larger than 2.5 µm. In a temporary Wuhan hospital fashioned from an indoor sports stadium for cohorting and treating patients with mild symptoms, high RNA concentrations were found in rooms used for removal of protective clothing (18 to 42 copies/m3), with the highest concentrations found in 0.25- to 0.5-µm particles, thought to result from particle release from contaminated clothing. author: Dr. Brosseau is a national expert on respiratory protection and infectious diseases and professor (retired), University of Illinois at Chicago. |