Tracking the next pandemic: Avian Flu Talk |
Can a microwave kill a virus |
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jofg
Valued Member Joined: May 31 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Posted: July 25 2006 at 6:25pm |
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Does anyone know if a microwave could kill a virus?
I was thinking the other night - what about the mail? In a pandemic, if we've isolated ourselves, I hat eto just abandon all mail. but at the same time I don't want to have to "suit up" each day to open and read my mail
So - what if I microwaved my mail? Would that do anything to a virus?
Silly question but.......
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AVanarts
Valued Member Joined: March 30 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 97 |
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It may kill the virus, but it may also set your mail on fire. AMHIK :) |
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TCharley300
V.I.P. Member Joined: May 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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Some countries use irradiation to kill salminallia (unsure of spelling) in poultry. Russia is a good example of that with processed chickens. I can't remember if the US has adopted that policy or not.
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TCharley 300
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TCharley300
V.I.P. Member Joined: May 17 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 117 |
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As far as decontamination of your peronal mail, boil water and take some tongs and place the letters over the steam for about 3 minutes or so. That's safer than a microwave for non food product.
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TCharley 300
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Too funny!
Viral Transmission http://highstrangeness.tv/articles/birdflu.php The late scientist Jacques Benveniste discovered that he could record the electromagnetic signature of a drug, transmit it by Email and have someone play the signature through a speaker into water and the water would take on the characteristics of the drug. Since humans are mostly water, would transmitting the electromagnetic signature of a virus through a microwave signal into the human body cause an infection of the virus? |
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Just so you know I'm not making fun of the microwave question. I've had that exact same thought about the mail so I went looking for information and found this funny .....
Thanksgiving Turkey Bird Flu Prevention Tips
By Ion Zwitter, Avant News Editor < =text/> < ="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" =text/> Ten Tips for a Bird-Flu-Free Thanksgiving from the CDC and the Consumer Alarm Bureau1) Begin your Thanksgiving turkey preparations by microwaving the bird for at least one hour at the maximum setting. The microwaves will destroy up to seventy percent of the avian flu virus. If your microwave is small, the Consumer Alarm Bureau recommends plunging it into the machine with a standard household toilet plunger. (Take the precaution of boiling the toilet plunger for three hours to kill any bacteria prior to using it on the turkey).2) Some viruses can be eliminated with a standard shotgun blast. If you own a shotgun, prop the turkey up outside by, for example, impaling it on a tall pole, and blast it with both barrels. Be sure to extract any shotgun pellets with tweezers prior to cooking the turkey. (Note: When shooting in populated areas, please have the courtesy to warn your neighbors to duck first). 3) Cook the turkey in a standard or convection oven at 450 degrees for at least 22 hours. This will help kill off many of the remaining flu viruses that survived the microwave and the shotgun. 4) Some strains of the avian flu virus can be subdued through harmonious singing. If you believe the bird may still be infected by active viruses, sing gentle lullabies to the bird before serving. That will soothe the viruses to sleep, rendering them harmlessly inert until they have safely passed out through the digestive tract. 5) Tamiflu stuffing can be just as effective as it is delicious! (Be sure to purchase Tamiflu early and avoid the Thanksgiving rush). With reasonable precautions, Thanksgiving dinner need not be a last supper 7) Offer non-essential guests or family members "first dibs" on the turkey. Watch carefully to see if they exhibit signs of avian flu before continuing with the meal. 8) When eating, chew each bite of turkey at least 30 times. Thorough and vigorous chewing can help destroy some of the larger remaining bird flu viruses. (Note: denture-wearers are advised to seek mastication assistance from the less dentally-challenged). 9) Disguise yourself and your Thanksgiving dinner guests as fish. There has as yet been no proof of successful bird-fish avian flu transmission. 10) Why not ostrich? Ostrich can make a delicious and economical alternative to Thanksgiving turkey. Try it with mint jelly and mashed potatoes. (Reminder: the head is suitable for use only as garnish). We hope these simple consumer tips will help make your Thanksgiving a memorable, bird-flu-free success. And remember, if you do contract avian flu, contact your local National Guard citizen relocation/incineration center immediately. Bon appétit! |
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http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec2001/1008868658.Mi.r.htmlRe: Cahttp://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/dec2001/1008868658.Mi.r.htmln the microwaving of the anthrax virus destroy it?Date: Wed Dec 12 17:16:04 2001Posted By: Alex Goddard, Grad student, Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School Area of science: Microbiology ID: 1004177340.Mi Message: Filiberto - Good question! From what I can find, its seems that microwaving could kill anthrax spores (and most bacterial spores), but that this might not be an effective way to treat the mail. In the included link, the author tried microwaving a xerox copy of a paper with some pretty strange effects. From what I recall, ultraviolet radiation is supposed to be used as an antibacterial in postal systems. That's what we use in our laboratories to kill unwanted bugs. Some interesting links: http://www.scienceagogo.com/newsforum7/messages/447.shtmlAbout UV radiation as an anti-bacterial: http://www.waterindustry.org/Water-Facts/ultraviolet-1.htm Hope that helps! Alex Goddard |
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Er
technically a virus cant be killed because its not alive
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Now I'm confused. I thought they were talking about live virus and dead virus in samples to be tested. Can you please explain
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a virus is not a living organism
it can be viable so it can take over another cell
or it can be not viable where it cant
but they dont ever live only be viable
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I was just being pedantic - sorry
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jofq, I don't know if it will but I don't plan to bring much mail into my house. I hope to pay bills on line or over the phone. I have another problem in that one of my little grandaughters loves to get the mail out of the box. Life as we know it, will have to change.
Good luck to all. |
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maysday
In Samoa in 1918 people got the flu through the mail - licking stamps and licking envelopes to seal them impregnanted the mail with virus - we dont need mail and it may break down
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jofg
Valued Member Joined: May 31 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Thanks for all the replies!! I agree that paying bills, etc can be done over the internet or via phone (assuming we have power and internet access and/or phone access ). I would hate to miss something important (an unremembered bill, a notificiation of this or that) that would come in the mail and then have legal problems to deal with after any self-imposed isolation. Of course, staying alive is the #1 concern, but.....
THanks again for everyone's responses!
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Ok, Ok, I'll do the necessary experiment.......the mail lady cometh.
MK |
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Kilt, I try to look on the bright side of everything. Perhaps, if we
miss some mail it will be that junk we don't need anyway! I've always
told my mail carrier's "do not risk your life over my mail." At the
time I was thinking of tornadoes but it applies across the board. I will have to be away from the computer for a couple of days. Good luck to all.
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jofg
Valued Member Joined: May 31 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 79 |
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Thanks! I'm traveling this week (which gives me more time to worry about stuff like this!) so I can't run the experiment myself :-)
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