Background Coronaviruses (CoVs) were long thought to only cause mild respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in humans but outbreaks of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-1, and the recently identified SARS-CoV-2 have cemented their zoonotic potential and their capacity to cause serious morbidity and mortality, with case fatality rates ranging from 4 to 35%. Currently, no specific prophylaxis or treatment is available for CoV infections. Therefore we investigated the virucidal and antiviral potential of Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce®) against human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E, highly pathogenic MERS- and SARS-CoVs, as well as the newly identified SARS-CoV-2, in vitro. Methods To evaluate the antiviral potential of the extract, we pre-treated virus particles and cells and evaluated remaining infectivity by limited dilution. Furthermore, we exposed cells to the extract after infection to further evaluate its potential as a prophylaxis and treatment against coronaviruses. We also determined the protective effect of Echinaforce® in re-constituted nasal epithelium. Results In the current study, we found that HCoV-229E was irreversibly inactivated when exposed to Echinaforce® at 3.2 μg/ml IC50. Pre-treatment of cell lines, however, did not inhibit infection with HCoV-229E and post-infection treatment had only a marginal effect on virus propagation at 50 μg/ml. However, we did observe a protective effect in an organotypic respiratory cell culture system by exposing pre-treated respiratory epithelium to droplets of HCoV-229E, imitating a natural infection. The observed virucidal activity of Echinaforce® was not restricted to common cold coronaviruses, as both SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoVs were inactivated at comparable concentrations. Finally, the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 was also inactivated upon treatment with 50μg/ml Echinaforce®. Conclusions These results show that Echinaforce® is virucidal against HCoV-229E, upon direct contact and in an organotypic cell culture model. Furthermore, MERS-CoV and both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 were inactivated at similar concentrations of the extract. Therefore we hypothesize that Echinacea purpurea preparations, such as Echinaforce®, could be effective as prophylactic treatment for all CoVs due to their structural similarities.

Room fumigation has traditionally been performed using formaldehyde. However, recently new methods have been developed, including vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP)

Background: Coronaviruses (CoVs) were long thought to only cause mild respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms in humans but outbreaks of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)-CoV, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV, and the recently identified SARS-CoV-2 have cemented their zoonotic potential and their capacity to cause serious morbidity and mortality, with case fatality rates ranging from 4 to 35%. Currently, no specific prophylaxis or treatment is available for CoV infections.Therefore we investigated the virucidal and antiviral potential of Echinacea purpurea (Echinaforce®) against human coronavirus (HCoV) 229E, highly pathogenic MERS- and SARS-CoVs, as well as the newly identified SARS-CoV-2, in vitro.Methods: To evaluate the antiviral potential of the extract we pre-treated virus particles and cells and evaluated remaining infectivity by limited dilution. Furthermore, we exposed cells to the extract after infection to further evaluate its potential as a prophylaxis and treatment against coronaviruses. We also determined the protective effect of Echinaforce® in re-constituted nasal epithelium.Results: In the current study, we found that HCoV-229E was irreversibly inactivated when exposed to Echinaforce® at 3.2mg/ml IC50. Pre-treatment of cell lines, however, did not inhibit infection with HCoV-229E and post-infection treatment had only a marginal effect on virus propagation at 50 mg/ml. However, we did observe a protective effect in an organotypic respiratory cell culture system by exposing pre-treated respiratory epithelium to droplets of HCoV-229E, imitating a natural infection. The observed virucidal activity of Echinaforce® was not restricted to common cold coronaviruses, as both SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoVs were inactivated at comparable concentrations. Finally, the causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 was also inactivated upon treatment with 50ug/ml Echinaforce®.Conclusions: These results show that Echinaforce® is virucidal against HCoV-229E, upon direct contact and in an organotypic cell culture model. Furthermore, MERS-CoV and both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 were inactivated at similar concentrations of the extract. Therefore we hypothesize that Echinacea purpurea preparations, such as Echinaforce®, could be effective as prophylactic treatment for all CoVs due to their structural similarities.

In several European countries, diagnosis of nephropathia epidemica, a mild form of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Puumalavirus infection, has increased over the past 10-20 years. In Switzerland, despite its geographical proximity to regions with epidemic outbreaks in Germany and France, infections are detected only sporadically. To estimate the actual prevalence and potential risk factors of human hantavirus infections in Switzerland, a seroepidemiological study was performed in 2009 on serum samples from 4,559 blood donors and 1,810 military personnel. Sera were screened using commercial Puumala IgG and hantavirus IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays indicating a seroprevalence of 1% and 9%, respectively. Subsequently, the samples were analysed by immunofluorescence assay and immunoblot assay, showing a much lower prevalence, of 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively. Two of the serum samples achieved an 80% reduction in plaque-forming units in a neutralisation test. Statistical evaluation of questionnaires only identified an association of age (above 50 years) with hantavirus seropositivity when adjusted for sex (odds ratio: 2.36; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-5.05). This study provides baseline data (0.3-0.4%) for future monitoring of hantavirus seroprevalence in Switzerland and highlights the challenges in estimating the seroprevalence of these viruses in a country with very low endemicity.

International standards as well as national regulations often require the incorporation of HEPA filters in the exhaust of BSL-3 (unless work with non-airborne organisms is performed-Swiss Containment Ordinance [Federal Council, 2012]) and certainly BSL-4 laboratories (single HEPA filter on supply and double HEPA filter on exhaust). These may need to be decontaminated from time to time, for example prior to filter integrity testing (protection of the testing equipment in case filters or seals are damaged and thus leaking) or when exchanging filters (bag-in/bag-out may offer an alternative or an additional safety measure, respectively). However, HEPA filter housings are not generally equipped with sample ports that allow for placement of indicators to confirm a successful fumigation process. Additionally, a site-specific risk assessment concluded that since the filter boxes are situated in an area deemed to remain non-contaminated at all times (HEPA filter floor above laboratory suites), indicators may not be placed inside the filter housings as opening them prior to fumigation would open containment and thus pose a threat to the people working on the filter boxes as well as to the environment. In this article the authors describe the use of the Indica-torSafe, a simple and cheap solution to the above-mentioned problem. Placing the IndicatorSafe in the return line following the filter housing was shown to be an efficient alternative when fumigating filter housings with vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP), as shown during the validation of filter housing fumigation cycles, and may likely be adapted to other fumigation methods on the market.