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HVAC Breaking News

April 22, 2003: New Technology Combats Biological Weapons, Airborne Infections

By Greg Mazurkiewicz
April 22, 2003
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Bio-Defense Research Group Inc. (BDRGI), a biotechnology firm based here, has announced the availability of Path-Away™, a technology that neutralizes deadly airborne bioterror agents such as anthrax and smallpox, according to the company. Said to be effective with a wide range of airborne pathogens, its use in health care facilities can significantly reduce the spread of infections, adds the company.

Path-Away integrates into air-handling systems and can provide protection for public and private facilities, modes of transportation ranging from military transports to cruise ships, as well as individuals wearing decontamination suits and other protective gear, the company says.

The technology originated at Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), Laurel, Md., which granted an exclusive worldwide license for the technology to BDRGI.

"This technology is different from anything we've found in the world market," stated John Bacon, APL technology transfer manager. "Every test we conducted using simulant bioterror pathogens, including anthrax and smallpox-like substances, it significantly destroyed them, as it did with more common pathogens such as staph infections that are often found in health care facilities."

Dr. Preston McGee, CEO of BDRGI, offered two examples to illustrate the impact Path-Away could have.

"First, look at the Brentwood Post Office facility in Washington," McGee said. "Brentwood was closed for a year and cost over a hundred million dollars to decontaminate because anthrax from a few envelopes entered the HVAC system and spread throughout the building. Much of the damage could have been contained had Path-Away been installed at that facility.

"Second, 90,000 people die every year because they enter a hospital and acquire an airborne infection that has traveled from one area to another using the HVAC system. Path-Away can cut the number of deaths resulting from these infections, saving thousands of lives and billions of health care and insurance dollars."

BDRGI is communicating with several agencies and companies regarding the technology, including military, government, corporate, and health care facilities.

Looking for quick answers on air conditioning, heating and refrigeration topics? Try Ask ACHR NEWS, our new smart AI search tool. Ask ACHR NEWS →

For more information, visit www.bdrgi.com.

Publication date: 04/21/2003

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Greg Mazurkiewicz is Web Editor. He can be contacted at 248-244-6459 or gregmazurkiewicz@achrnews.com. Greg handles the day-to-day operations of The NEWS' website, www.achrnews.com, including the Extra Edition page, which offers additional online-exclusive articles. He has 40 years of experience as a writer and editor. He holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism and a master's degree in Business Management.

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