UV rays to ‘stop next pandemic’

UlTravIOleT light is effective at killing off airborne bacteria and viruses, but there is a risk it will damage the skin and eyes.

However, UK scientists have now found that a form of it, called far-UvC, doesn’t penetrate the skin’s top layer or the eye’s tear film. a new study reported in the journal scientific reports showed that far-UvC destroyed 98 per cent of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus within five minutes. The researchers said it could be used to clean locations where people gather and might ‘prevent the next pandemic’.