New Gas Safely Kills Anthrax, Super Germs, Experts Say

WASHINGTON -- There's still no surefire treatment for people who inhale anthrax, but now, there is a major breakthrough in prevention.

Any post office, hospital, airplane or other enclosed space contaminated by anthrax can soon be quickly sterilized with a dry gas that destroys spores and bacteria.

The gas -- called Vaprox -- can also kill drug-resistant super bugs like bird flu and hospital-acquired infections, says Dr. Mark Smith, Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Washington Hospital Center.

"The gas is very effective at filling all the spaces and killing all the bugs," Dr. Smith says. "We're seeing 100,000 deaths a year from hospital-acquired infections. This is going to be part of the solution."

Steris, a company specializing in decontamination and infection prevention, developed Vaprox, which uses a low-temperature, dry vapor process that is environmentally-friendly, non-carcinogenic and does not leave any toxins.

Vaprox can be used in any four-walled space with a ceiling, Smith says.

The EPA recently gave Vaprox market clearance.

Steris is working with hospitals nationwide to conduct clinical trials and evaluations.

Erin Reilly contributed to this report.

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