Feature
Ultraviolet Rays Tested in Fight Against Tuberculosis
The use of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation for the disinfection of airborne infectious particles to prevent transmission of diseases is an old technology that has yet to mature due to a lack of real world testing. Enough has been learned through extensive research and long experience, however, to make the technology useful today while researchers continue to learn. Greater knowledge, through ongoing re- search and closely monitored installations, may determine conclusively whether UVGI air-mixing systems can make a ben- eficial difference in TB control. If proof can be established in difficult settings such as homeless shelters that TB spread can be reduced by UVGI, the technology can be applied broadly. Clinics, prisons, long- term care facilities, schools, and public transportation networks are examples of sites where this cost-effective strategy could be applied.
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