The INOSEPT story

Background:

The Covid-19 coronavirus is highly contagious…

The virus that causes COVID-19 remains for several hours to days on surfaces and in aerosols, a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found.

The study suggests that people may acquire the coronavirus through the air and after touching contaminated objects. Scientists discovered the virus is detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200320192755.htm

There is a new challenge on the professional, personal, social and family front.  This challenge originated from the wet non-veg wildlife food market of Wuhan, Hubei province, China and is sparing none across the world.  Even Prince Charles is tested Covid-19 positive.  Such is the nature of this contagion called Covid-19 coronavirus.

In the third para of this link: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/getting-workplace-ready-for-covid-19.pdf WHO document states that when a Covid-19 infected person coughs or exhales, droplets of infected fluid are released.

Story:

Sharon is a widow – mother of three children.  A single mother balancing her home duties with a job was straining every nerve and muscle in her body.  Her husband a brave warrior of the Indian army was martyred at the border.   The Indian army facilities for war widows were good - so it took a lot of load from Sharon’s frail shoulders.

The contagious Covid-19 viral infection affected Sharon’s family life deeply.  The three kids were a handful at home.  A ray of hope was elderly Peter, her brother, who lived in their large home.  Peter would come over to the hall, and tell stories to the three kids and keep them occupied while Sharon would do the home chores.

Today, Peter was looking grim.  Peter was a successful medical representative during his heyday and he now led a quiet retired life.  He retired 8 years back, and Peter with his bed-ridden wife Elda lived with Sharon, his only sister. 

Nowadays, Peter spoke slowly with a gummy and toothy smile.  Elderly Peter was known to be a dedicated and systematic person.  He would seriously insist: ‘PLAN YOUR WORK, AND WORK YOUR PLAN.  This will make you successful’.

A grim looking Peter started: ‘Children, do you know what is a virus?’  Peter sat on the single sofa while the kids gathered on the carpet, seated and listening to him.

The eldest kid of Sharon, Arun - all of 15 years said: “Yeah, it is a small invisible living thing that causes diseases like mumps and common cold!”

Peter was astonished, and realised the power of internet, Arun was a great fan of Natgeo kids and Discovery kids websites.  The smallest child of all, Kristella giggled seeing Peter looking surprised.  Peter started slowly: “Good, do you know how to kill viruses?”  All were quiet and listening.

Peter continued: “Children, there is a dangerous virus on the prowl, it enters mainly through the nose or mouth”.  Immediately, Kristella touched her nose and mouth proudly, showing she knew where the organs were located.  Peter smiled at her innocence and charming smile. 

Peter exclaimed: “Exactly, Kristella, that is what even grownups do, they keep touching the face, nose, eyes or mouth and lips by habit!  Now, if the hands are contaminated with the virus, it gets into the body either through the nose or mouth.”

Arun: “Oh!  Viruses are dangerous!!  I read that some bacteria too have viruses attached to them!”

Peter: “Yes, you are right, now tell me, what happens when you cough or sneeze?”

Mira the middle one who was the quiet and the mature type, raised her hand: “Millions of invisible drops come out!”

Arun, feeling the competition: “Yes, and viruses come out with these invisible drops”.

Peter: “Exactly, now imagine what if viruses come out even when a person breathes out or exhales!  Well that happens with this new dangerous virus, which comes out of certain people due to coughing, sneezing and even exhaling!  And this virus lives on surfaces for several hours!”

Kristella: “Oh! How scary!!”

Peter: “Indeed it is scary!  So that is why we are all staying indoors and not going out of the home.”

Peter slowly took out a bottle of INOSEPT from a large brown bag.  He smiled and said: “Inosept contains safe chemicals that protects us but kills the virus!”

Arun, the intrepid child scientist: “How does INOSPET … sorry INOSEPT work?”

Peter (smiled thinking of his bygone days of detailing): “Viruses have a coat called virion.  This outer covering of the virus has both proteins and fats”.    Peter added: “Now after having breakfast, when you have had bread and butter, you have to wash hands with soap, to remove the fatty butter from your fingers.  Same way, if there are viruses contaminating the hand, you have to wash with soap, and the soap washes off the viruses since these microbes have both proteins and fats in their outer coating.  Soap is essential to remove fat matter.  Washing only with water does not wash out fat.  But remember - to ensure complete removal of viruses including Covid-19 from the hands and fingers, soap has to be in contact with the fingers and hands for minimum 20 seconds”.

Kristella immediately asked: “What are seconds?”

Mira the middle child said: “Quiet!  You will learn when you grow big!”

Arun added: “What if there is no water?  It often happens in Bangalore in our flat!”

Peter smiled: “Yes, that is why INOSEPT is useful.  INOSEPT can also be carried!  Also this is trusted by doctors and used by them too!”

Arun: “Peter uncle, how does this act, what is it?”

Peter: “INOSEPT is an antiseptic broad spectrum hand sanitizer, it means it can kill almost all types of bacteria, viruses and other micro-organisms.  Macetronium ethyl sulphate is the important ingredient in INOSEPT.  This is an antiseptic, it means the compound kills bacteria and viruses and other microbes or invisible small organisms.  Inosept also has two forms of propanol which provides antisepsis and helps give a good feel and good odour!”. 

“Thank you Peter uncle” said all the three.

Peter kept a pack of INOSEPT near the door.  He said that whenever anyone comes into the house or goes out, he or she has to apply the INOSEPT to the front and back of the hands and in between fingers.  “This is called hand hygiene” – Peter added.

Hand hygiene is a saviour.  It helps reduce microbial load from hands, which are the chief sources of contamination.

Lockdown, social distancing, wearing the mouth mask and hand hygiene is clearly the way forward in our battle against the deadly highly contagious Covid-19 viral infection.