Effect of chlorine dioxide on avian influenza A(H7N9)virus

Avian influenza remains a threat to human wellbeing.Hypochlorite derivatives are commonly used as disinfectants to prevent the spread of the disease.The World Health Organization(WHO)has listed chlorine dioxide(ClO_(2))as an A1‐level,safe,and efficient disinfectant.In this study,we tested the efficacy of ClO_(2),in aqueous solution and gas forms,against avian influenza A(H7N9)virus.The virus suspension was mixed with ClO_(2) aqueous solutions of various concentrations and for various time intervals.Aliquots of the mixture were then serially diluted,and the 50%tissue culture infective dose(TCID50)was measured with a hemagglutination test on MDCK cells.ClO_(2) gas produced from generators was introduced in a chamber containing the virus suspension in a Petri dish.The infective activity of the surviving virus was measured by the hemagglutination test.An aqueous solution of ClO_(2) at 126μg/mL for 15 s was effective given that no surviving virus was detected with the hemagglutination test.ClO_(2) gas at>5μL/L sustained for 1 h inactivated the virus effectively,while at 2.5μL/L for 1 h,it only partially inactivated the virus.ClO_(2) as gas or aqueous solution at a certain concentration is effective in inactivating the H7N9 virus,and can be applied for the decontamination and disinfection of environments.