InavIVUS – Inactivation of avian influenza viruses by remote UV treatment in the stable air supply (InavIVUS)

In the ‘InavIVUs’ project, an innovative technique to eliminate or inactivate airborne pathogens in the supply air of poultry houses will be developed. The process will be verified using avian influenza as a highly relevant pathogen. The technology needs to be evaluated by integration into common barn components for fresh air supply. The novel approach disinfects the supply air by means of suitable, externally housed lighting units in the far-UV-C range. This can reduce the necessary use of anti-infectives and, in contrast to vaccinations or antibiotics, enables the reduction of multi-resistant bacteria and fungi in the stable air. The knowledge gained on the use of remote UV-C in turkey barns can be transferred to other livestock after the end of the project. This can prevent slaughtering or emergency vaccination of entire animal herds by reliably eradicating incoming pathogens, thus avoiding enormous cost- and labor-intensive measures, and makes a major contribution to increasing animal welfare in fattening and breeding farms.