After years of suppression, scientists finally admit copper and silver destroys norovirus

By: The Watcher, 10/15/2013

The highly infectious norovirus, or stomach flu bug, causes a very common illness, affecting hundreds of millions of people who come into contact with it through contaminated food, water, surfaces or other people every year. Now, scientists have discovered that copper and its more than 300 different alloys don't just fight norovirus - copper destroys it. Simulating contamination via touch, researchers found that norovirus could not survive on any dry surface containing more than 60% copper. The findings do not apply solely to norovirus either but to a range of various fungi and bacteria. Armed with this knowledge, lead study author Sarah Warnes noted that copper-rich antimicrobial surfacing in high-traffic public areas, especially care facilities, could reduce norovirus exposure and significantly cut down how many people get sick.

This research reaffirms a previous study out of the University of Nebraska that was the first to demonstrate that when microbes were exposed to dry, copper-infused surfaces, hundreds of millions of bacterial cells died within minutes. Copper's antimicrobial properties have been known for thousands of years, dating back to an ancient Egyptian text that discussed using the mineral as a sterilization agent for wounds and drinking water. The Father of Modern Medicine, Hippocrates, even mentioned copper as a treatment for leg ulcers circa 400 B.C. Further ancient copper cures span the gamut of treatments, including for infected ears, purging the stomach of intestinal parasites and lung diseases.

For more on this story visit http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2013/10/15/research-copper-destroys-norovirus-mrsa-colloidal-silver/