October 18, 2006—Vortex Corporation, a global innovator of chemical-free water purification products for consumer and commercial use, announced that its patented technology – currently funded by the Department of Homeland Security – effectively destroys the Avian Influenza A virus (commonly known as Bird Flu) in water.
Although a number of popular oxidizing agents such as chlorine would reduce the risk of a water-borne outbreak of Avian Flu, Vortex technology is unique in naturally destroying the highly infectious virus while eliminating the homeland security and health-related risks associated with chlorine and similar agents, says the company.
In a recent study spearheaded by Vortex Corporation and the University of Minnesota, the company’s photo-oxidation technology – mimicking the natural water purification phenomenon that occurs in the environment – was found to destroy the H9N9 subtype of Avian Influenza A in water. The H9N9 strain is comparable to the H5N1 subtype identified by the World Health Organization as potentially fatal to humans.
Avian Influenza A is an extremely contagious infection transmitted by bird species. In the rare instance that it is transmitted from birds to humans, the virus is capable of causing pneumonia, organ failure or even death. The World Health Organization reports that the potential exists for Avian Influenza A to mutate into a form that is easily spread from person to person via public water supplies.
Vortex is currently under contract with the Department of Homeland Security to develop chlorine-free water purification systems for municipal use, leveraging the company’s patented and scalable photo-oxidation technology for emergency preparedness and homeland security. The system has the potential to significantly reduce (or eliminate) our nation’s dependency on chlorine as a primary disinfectant in water treatment. In recent studies, the storage and transportation of this agent have been identified as potential terrorism risks.
Vortex Corporation is a global innovator of chemical-free air and water purification products for consumer and commercial use.
