Can prions be killed by high temperatures?
Feb 22, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jiang Weimin
Introduction
High temperatures can kill viruses, but a certain temperature must be reached to achieve the desired effect. Exposing the virus to 50°C for one hour can kill 99.9% of the virus, while exposing it to 60°C for half an hour can kill 99.99% of the virus.
High temperatures can kill viruses, but a certain temperature must be reached to achieve the desired effect.
Prion virus is a novel type of virus that can spread through direct human-to-human contact as well as through the air. The prion virus is an RNA virus, and the pathogen is a newly identified coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which can infect the human lungs and cause pneumonia symptoms. When exposed to a temperature of 50°C, 99.9% of the virus can be killed within one hour; when exposed to 60°C, 99.99% of the virus can be inactivated within half an hour.
Furthermore, studies have found that at higher temperatures, such as 70°C, 99.999% of the virus can be eliminated within 10 minutes. Therefore, high temperatures can kill viruses, but a sufficient temperature must be achieved to obtain the expected results.
The prion virus spreads very rapidly, and many of its symptoms are asymptomatic, making it easy to overlook. Thus, prevention and control measures for the prion virus are extremely important.
