Scientist Invents ‘Robot’ That Kills Ebola Virus

In a bid to combat the recent surge of the Ebola Virus Disease, two germ-killing robots have been taken from the US to hospitals in Moronvia and Liberia.

Fox News reports that it was deemed necessary so as to combat the deadly disease through the use of innovative disinfection technology. The hospitals involved are: the JFK Hospital and ELWA Hospital both in Monrovia, Republic of Liberia, both hotspots of the Ebola disease outbreak.

^{TRU-D SmartUVC ultraviolet disinfection device on display}

The robots are put in place to disinfect the places where Ebola patients are being treated. According to the developer, the robot works by generating ultraviolet light energy that modifies the DNA structure of viral pathogens, like Ebola, so that they cannot reproduce.

Viruses that cannot reproduce cannot colonise and harm patients,” the inventor, a tropical disease expert and medical anthropologist Dr. Jeffery L. Deal noted in an interview.

^{Shows UV device in action (in the process of disinfection)}

Deal made it known that the robot, TRU-D SmartUVC technology was developed to combat the devastating effects of hospital acquired infections. He further said: “Unlike many diseases, Ebola strikes hospital workers more than any other group, making it the ultimate hospital acquired infection.”

Explaining that aside from Ebola, the TRU-D SmartUVC technology, also helps in subduing transfer of other deadly diseases like Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, MERS, influenza, norovirus, Clostridium difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, etc., in all types of health care settings, including isolation wards, patient rooms, operating rooms, surgical suites, intensive care units, emergency rooms, public areas and ambulances.

“We know through extensive CDC-funded research specific to TRU-D conducted by thought leaders in epidemiology and infection prevention that TRU-D is effective at eliminating anypathogen by delivering a precisely measured UVC dose. “As soon as we knew we could aid struggling hospitals in Liberia, our team came together and formulated a plan to get TRU-D on the ground. More than 200 TRU-Ds have been deployed to disinfect hospitals across the U.S. and internationally’’, Deal reiterated.

The device, which has been tested in the US was developed by a team of engineers, physicians and industrial hygienists with the sole aim of sterilizing health centres, rooms where patients are being taken care of, contaminated surface and many more. And surprisingly, the U.S. Army tested the  particular wavelength against Ebola and found that the measured dose TRU-D delivers results in incredibly rapid destruction of the virus with its pathogen-specific dosing options.

It would be recalled that the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria has caused lots of uproar in the country. From banks checking the state of health of their customers before allowing them to transact, to citizens desisting from bush meats and many more.