Chlorine water treatment is effective towards Hepatitis E Virus

Experimental assays on HEV stability towards water treatment performed by WADHE team have given important basis to develop Standard Protocols for HEV outbreak response, as until this study there was no scientific evidence on HEV susceptibility to major disinfectants (chlorine, UV treatment, etc).

Now, we have tested the effect of chlorination treatment on HEV inactivation. Data obtained shows inactivation parameters to achieve 1-log viral reduction (90% inactivation) between 0.15-0.12 mg x min/l for HEV from cell culture. WASH interventions in emergencies normally target to have 0.5 mg/l FRC at tap stands level – raised up to 0.8-1 mg/l during outbreaks, so from the information we have obtained we can affirm that current doses of chlorine will be enough for a strong reduction of infectious viruses.

Results have been published in the Journal of Water and Health (Chlorine inactivation of hepatitis E virus and human adenovirus 2 in water. Girones R, Carratalà A, Calgua B, Calvo M, Rodriguez-Manzano J, Emerson S. J Water Health. 2014 Sep; 12(3):436-42. doi: 10.2166/wh.2014.027.)

Currently, the WADHE team are discussing among practitioners in the Oxfam Emergency Management Network to propose a specific protocol for HEV outbreak, focused on WASH interventions.

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