Click to play videoMumbai: Jet lagged, sleep deprived but relieved to be on terra firma are the people arriving at Mumbai International Airport. They are relieved for they no longer fear catching the swine flu virus.
A businessman Randeep says, "We Mumbaikars are not sacred of any virus."
UK-based pediatrician, Asha Radhakrishnan adds, "It's (swine flu) being made out to be something really big."
Few know that in the Mumbai airport area where passengers are being screened for the virus, is a new technology that may take care of all worries.
Developed by NASA, this technology is the same as the one that purifies air in space stations.
Airocide, technically, a photocatalytic enconditioning system is capable of destroying microorganisms including anthrax and the swine flu virus.
Air suctioned into the machine, Airocide is made to collide with hydroxyl radicals that are very reactive in the presence of UV light. The reaction mineralises and completely destroys not just microorganisms, but even gases, releasing pure air with traces of carbon dioxide and water vapour.
Director Great White Technology, Dharmesh Keswani says, "This technology is an FDA certified class II medical device."
Virus experts, though, stress on periodic monitoring of not just the air quality level, but also the system for post market surveillance.
Director Haffkine Institute for Training, Research & Testing, Dr Abhay Chowdhary says, "We should not take it for granted as it's technology from outside the country."
The technology cost Mumbai International Airport well over Rs 5 lakh. Even INS Viraat has been fitted with this technology and Delhi Sports Authority is trailing it for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The company also plans to introduce smaller models for residences and offices.
(With inputs from Satyarth Nayak in New Delhi)
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