Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2020 December 29

= December 29 =

UV-C sanitizing machine that works against the covid?
I've been considering getting one of these, so I can disinfect things like my keys, mobile phone, cards, money, masks (if I only wore them briefly), cigarettes, stuff that came in the mail, documents related to my work, etc.

Unfortunately I've heard that there are a lot of scams and products that are just crappy on places like eBay and Amazon.

What do I need to be looking for, to find one that actually kills the covid/China virus/corona/whatever? I know it needs to be a purpose-made UV-C emitter, not just a general ultraviolet tube/blacklight - apparently scammers are selling these at inflated prices and advertising them as working against the virus.

Are there any specific products/manufacturers that are recommended? --Iloveparrots (talk) 10:30, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Don't buy the LED models, as they are probably just pale blue lights. UVC LEDs are a very special product, not likely to be sold cheaply. I bought a UVC fluoro tube. It is a clear tube with no fluorescent coating. It produces ozone, which you can smell, when it operates. I got it before the outbreak, so there was no shortage. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 12:20, 29 December 2020 (UTC)


 * Is it true that most of those handheld UV wands are useless blue lamps - and if they're not useless, they're actively dangerous, as the intensity of UV-C required to kill the covid would also hurt your eyes and blister your skin? Not something you should be waving around. Saw that claimed. --Iloveparrots (talk) 12:59, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Let me quote from ultraviolet germicidal irradiation: "For human beings, skin exposure to germicidal wavelengths of UV light can produce rapid sunburn and skin cancer. Exposure of the eyes to this UV radiation can produce extremely painful inflammation of the cornea and temporary or permanent vision impairment, up to and including blindness in some cases." Draw your own conclusions. Fgf10 (talk) 15:01, 29 December 2020 (UTC)


 * As this is the reference desk, let's try a reference: UV Lights and Lamps: Ultraviolet-C Radiation, Disinfection, and Coronavirus. Quick summary: mostly does not work, easily causes more harm than good, but the definitive science is not in yet.  Unproven medical interventions are usually not a great idea.  85.76.64.226 (talk) 17:09, 29 December 2020 (UTC)

Does Rabies virus harmful to dog also?
I know Rabies virus harmful to humans, what about dogs health? Rizosome (talk) 18:07, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * I googled "does rabies kill dogs" and the answer is definitely YES. Before they die, they can become aggressive (hence the term "mad dog") and bite, which is one way humans can get it. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 18:18, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Untreated rabies is almost always fatal in humans, dogs or any other mammal. Cullen328  Let's discuss it  18:20, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * See Rabies in animals. Deor (talk) 18:48, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * "Untreated rabies is almost always fatal" - as far as I am aware, it is always fatal. And treated rabies is also as near as matters always fatal if the treatment doesn't start until after the symptoms appear.  (According to the article, only one person has ever survived that, and the treatment they used hasn't worked on anyone else). Iapetus (talk) 11:46, 4 January 2021 (UTC)

vaccination after COVID 19 infection
If somebody is unknowingly infected w/ Covid 19, and then the next day, while stil presymptomatic and still in the incubation period, they receive the first dose of vaccine, would their recite of the vaccine be expected to have any effect on their subsequent course of illness with COVID 19? Please note, I am not seeking medical advice for myself as I am months away from vaccination. I am merely curious because I have heard that for some other viral diseases, ( measles, Hepatitis A) vaccination within a certain amount of time after exposure can sometimes prevent or at least reduce severity of illness. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 63.247.53.11 (talk) 20:55, 29 December 2020 (UTC)
 * Not known, but looks less likely with Covid, because the virus has a very rapid onset and is in full bloom before a vaccine would normally be expected to raise a response. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/info-by-product/clinical-considerations.html Gzuckier (talk) 06:13, 30 December 2020 (UTC)


 * Just now I saw a news story of someone who developed symptoms and tested positive for COVID-19 six days after getting the vaccine. It is possible they were already infected but still asymptomatic when receiving the first dose. Alternatively, they could have become infected afterwards; the protection of the vaccination before the second dose is rather limited. The story does not mention anything concerning the prognosis of the patient. While the prior vaccination will at least somewhat boost an immunological response, for some COVID-19 patients the worst problem is the immune system overreacting in a so-called cytokine storm. --Lambiam 15:57, 30 December 2020 (UTC)