Scientists all around the world have been working to develop vaccines. But there are other tools to combat the coronavirus pandemic since it began in December of 2019. Japanese scientists have now developed masks that can detect the virus when exposed to ultraviolet light. Yasuhiro Tsukamoto and his colleagues at Kyoto Prefectural University in western Japan created ostrich cell masks. Previous studies have shown that ostriches have a high level of resistance to this virus.
If the masks contain traces of coronavirus, they glow when exposed to ultraviolet light, according to Kyodo News. Some test subjects were asked to wear masks coated with ostrich antibodies by the researchers. The masks were handed over to the researchers after they had been worn for eight hours, and the filters were removed. If the virus was present on the surface, spraying with a chemical will make the mask glow under ultraviolet light. The filters were worn by COVID-19 positive people. Revealing a glowing element around the nose and mouth surface when the light shines on them.
Tsukamoto was the first to try on ostrich cell masks
Tsukamoto was the first to try on ostrich cell masks. He realized he was infected with the deadly coronavirus after noticing the same glowing elements in the ostrich antibody-covered mask he was wearing. To confirm his fears, he underwent a standard test, which revealed that he was positive for COVID-19. His team is now attempting to create advanced technology masks that can glow automatically even without the use of special lighting if the masks have virus particles on the surface.
Until then, the researchers are marketing these masks as a low-cost method of testing coronavirus at home. This comes at a time when the world is attempting to combat rapidly. The spread of a new variant of coronavirus known as Omicron. Experts say the new variant is more transmissible than the Delta variant. But causes less severe disease than the previously dominant variant.