It’s
a welcome alternative to intensive and meticulous washing and disinfecting that
has been the approach for cleaning trucks returning from the United States
where Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus is widespread.
Dr
Terry Fonstad, a professor in the College of Engineering at the University of
Saskatchewan, says researchers with VIDO-Intervac have demonstrated that heat
is extremely effective in destroying pathogens.
The researchers have given truckers temperature and
heat regimes that range from high temperatures for low time frames to a little
bit lower temperatures for longer time frames that can be used to develop
heating systems for the transport industry that will ensure they have proper
pathogen kill under varying conditions from varying heating systems.
For example, 15 minutes at 75 degrees is effective.
At 80 degrees
it takes slightly less time.
Dr Fonstad says input from an industry
based advisory team has been a key factor in the success of this effort.
