After last year, there’s no need to argue why it’s crucial for us to stop the spread of diseases and viruses. The coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly around the world in a matter of months. You’ve heard enough about that. What is worth talking about is the role that technology can play in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and viruses.

The following will explore some wonderful developments that you might not have been aware of. Especially after the year, we’ve all had, it can feel really good to look at some of the more positive developments happening in the world today.

Applications For Tracking Infectious Diseases

One of the major ways we can slow down the spread of preventable illnesses is by understanding where a virus, bacteria, or disease is and other pieces of data about it. Epidemiologists can then use this information to study the progression of the health danger as well as develop an understanding of how to best slow the spread.

When data is collected en masse, scientists and researchers can crunch the numbers and determine the best course of action recommended for governments. For example, a study from MIT looked at the data and found that if handwashing rates were improved in only ten of the world’s biggest airports, the spread of infectious diseases would be significantly reduced. This seems like a small change to make that could have a massive impact on the world’s health.

Traditional infectious disease data collection methods rely on government agencies, hospitals, and environmental and census data. These methods have high costs and financial barriers for data collection and are far from instantaneous.

Apps were developed in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020 that help users share and access the most up to date information possible regarding the virus. Some applications are even able to alert a user if they have come near someone who was later found to be coronavirus positive.

As a side note, not all applications are created equally. If you intend on using an app to do your part and help prevent the spread of COVID-19 or any other viruses, make sure to do your research and choose a well-regarded application. Some of these apps are genuine technical marvels, while others are full of misinformation or scams.

Catching Infectious Diseases At The Door

New germicidal ultraviolet fluorescent lights are being used to limit the risks of infectious diseases spreading in hospitals and medical environments. Specialists from https://www.healthysole.com/ explain that UV lights are proven disinfectants. Devices now exist that medical personnel can stand on for as short as eight seconds and have their shoes disinfected by UV lights. This can make a major difference in how pathogens travel throughout hospital environments where immune-compromised people need all the protection they can get.

Plasma Reactors Can Clean The Air Of Viruses

A plasma reactor sounds like something a Bond villain would have in their attic, but new developments at the University of Michigan have found that plasma reduced the number of infectious diseases in the air by more than 99%. More than this, they discovered that plasma didn’t kill the viruses, only limited their ability to infect people.

Plasma can be looked at as the fourth state of matter (in addition to solids, liquids, and gases). You can think of it as a gas made up of electrically charged ions and electrons instead of neutral atoms and molecules. Nonthermal plasma is plasma that wasn’t created at high temperatures. Nonthermal plasma reactors have been found to leave airborne pathogens unable to infect their host organisms (animal or human) as the plasma oxidizes the viruses, preventing them from entering cells. Scientists are considering the use of non-thermal plasma reactors in enclosed areas like on long-distance flights to help reduce the risk of coronavirus for passengers.

The above information is exciting and uplifting to be sure. When humans work together, they can solve a lot of the world’s problems. This being said, none of the above technological advancements should be interpreted as making your safety precautions unnecessary. Viruses are clever and always adapting. Make sure to follow not only the suggested regulations from your local government but any additional precautions required by local businesses. More than this, listen to your instincts. If something doesn’t feel safe or healthy to you, stop and consider what you can do to improve the situation. When it comes to infectious diseases, each choice you make isn’t about just your health—it could impact the lives of many others as well.