Anti-Norovirus Hand Cleaners

I read an interesting article (below) on hand sanitizers - be aware that alcohol based products like Purell ARE NOT anti-viral, just anti-bacterial. Products containing Benzethonium Chloride ARE anti-viral, such as Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes. Wet Ones come in a handy travel pack...and you can use then to wipe off door handles, etc.

Article:

http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/great-newswet-ones-brand-anti-bacterial-kills-norovirus/

Interesting, thanks.

I have the wipes. It'd be nice if it is a gel too.

I have the wipes. It'd be nice if it is a gel too.

It does come in a gel BUT does not contain Benzalkonium Chloride - However, another product, Hands 2 Go does. Sold at these stores:

http://waterjourney.com/wheretobuy.html

Here's a hand sanitizing product containing benzalkonium chloride and is available at WalMart called Soapopular:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10097643&sourceid=1500000000000003260370&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10097643

I read an interesting article (below) on hand sanitizers - be aware that alcohol based products like Purell ARE NOT anti-viral, just anti-bacterial. Products containing Benzethonium Chloride ARE anti-viral, such as Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes. Wet Ones come in a handy travel pack...and you can use then to wipe off door handles, etc.

 

Article:

http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/great-newswet-ones-brand-anti-bacterial-kills-norovirus/

I agree with Verdana...My wife and I took the Quest from Hong Kong to Tianjin on Jan. 31-Feb. 14, 2009 and the ship was using Purell all over the place from the start, but it didn't stop the Norovirus from hitting a week into the cruise and decimationg both passengers and crew. At first there was no indication of any trouble from the Ship staff until so many people were affected, that "Captain Carl" had to aknowledge the fact and making an announcement that anyone who got sick add to report it or get thrown off the cruise. It got so bad that a person from CDC was flown from Miami to Seoul, Korea to oversee the quarantine. there were far more folks who got sick and didn't report it than did, spo those of us who did go along, had to fill out a 3 page CDC questionaire indicating all of our activities and what we had touched for three days prior to getting sick. Even the ship's doctor came down with it.

What was left of the crew was wiping down and trying to disinfect everything with bleach, to no avail, and the Chinese authorities in Bejing refused to let 6 people off the boat unless we went to a Hospital in Bejing to finish out our quarantine. Only 2 people took the offer and the rest of us stayed on board and went back to Dalian with the new cruise, then bought plane tickets back to Bejing. It was a real Chinese fire drill (no pun intended) and the ship staff appeared to be at a loss as to what to do, and the Chinese authorities were completly uncooperative..

Hopefully the folks on the return leg from Tianjin to Hong

Kong/Singapore fared better, so I'd be curious to see if anyone posts from that trip.

All in all not a pleasant experience.

I read an interesting article (below) on hand sanitizers - be aware that alcohol based products like Purell ARE NOT anti-viral, just anti-bacterial. Products containing Benzethonium Chloride ARE anti-viral, such as Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes. Wet Ones come in a handy travel pack...and you can use then to wipe off door handles, etc.

 

Article:

http://writersblock15.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/great-newswet-ones-brand-anti-bacterial-kills-norovirus/

Does anyone know the names of products containing Benzethonium Chloride available in the UK [and, for others in other countries], please?

Sue

Does anyone know the names of products containing Benzethonium Chloride available in the UK [and, for others in other countries], please?

 

Sue

Sue, haven't looked into products containing Benzethonium Chloride yet but Purell have a new gel that claims to be effective against norovirus. You have to make sure you get the PURELL VF481 Antiviral one and they have it on this site http://www.handhygiene4u.co.uk.

Thank you so much for sharing this information. I did not know I was using a product that did not protect us against norovirus. Now that I am educated on the subject, I will certainly buy the products mentioned to protect ourselves. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :o

This is great to bring to the buffet or anywhere else on the ship...I'm going to go to walgreens and see if they carry any of the gels.

I like Fresh Cleanse products and always take a supply of the towelettes and lotion when I travel. I am sensitive to perfumy scents and these have a pleasant scent but it doesn't linger. You can order online..

http://www.freshcleanse.com/

Danna

Here's a hand sanitizing product containing benzalkonium chloride and is available at WalMart called Soapopular:

 

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10097643&sourceid=1500000000000003260370&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=10097643

Benzethonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride

The ingredient that claims to kill noro is the 1st ingredient above. The Soapopular contains the 2nd ingredient & DOES NOT claim to kill viruses.

Sue, haven't looked into products containing Benzethonium Chloride yet but Purell have a new gel that claims to be effective against norovirus. You have to make sure you get the PURELL VF481 Antiviral one and they have it on this site http://www.handhygiene4u.co.uk.

mara1

Many thanks. I was struggling to find anything on the Internet.

Sue

the best hand wash is other peoples,ie if every one washed their hands it would help,

to stop the dammed thing.Isnt norvo also an airbourne nasty as well

Thank you for that information. I will definately buy the Wet Ones antibacterial wipes and gell.

Benzethonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride

 

The ingredient that claims to kill noro is the 1st ingredient above. The Soapopular contains the 2nd ingredient & DOES NOT claim to kill viruses.

They are both quaternary ammonium compounds and quite similar. Given that QUATS are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and that there is a lot of concern over the amounts released to the environment, perhaps widespread use on cruise ships would not be a good idea!

you can use x3 clean available in canada , or one step foaming hand sanitizer (alcohol free) both product with benzalkonium chloride

available in canadian pharmacy

sylvain

Given that QUATS are highly toxic to aquatic organisms and that there is a lot of concern over the amounts released to the environment, perhaps widespread use on cruise ships would not be a good idea!

That's an interesting perspective.

You seem to have some knowledge on this topic (?maybe?). What I am curious about is this: I have read a bunch of statements online about benzethonium chloride being anti-viral. Why, then, do none of the products containing this ingredient claim to be anti-viral? They just claim "antibacterial". I have found a couple products, including the Wet Ones antibacterial wipes, & NONE say "anti-viral".

These are available at Walmart. I just checked the ingredients and the link information is the same.

Thanks for this very important information.!

Purell VF481 is only available in the UK. Guess is hasn't passed the FDA muster. Soapopular doesn't appear to be effective against Noro.

Info on Benzalkonium Chloride, which is an ingredient in Wet Ones Wipes, and

Soapopular. It is good for Norovirus. There are lots of sanitizers/wipes out there containing this ingredient.

http://www.tionicon.com/products/dephyze_hand_foam.aspx

http://www.emetophobia.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16659&PN=1

Info on Benzalkonium Chloride, which is an ingredient in Wet Ones Wipes, and

Soapopular. It is good for Norovirus. There are lots of sanitizers/wipes out there containing this ingredient.

 

http://www.tionicon.com/products/dephyze_hand_foam.aspx

http://www.emetophobia.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16659&PN=1

Thanks for your links! As long as the Benzathonium Chloride content is over .013% - it works. All of the products mentioned in these posts appear to have concentrations far over that.

BTW, I am aware of a company in Montana (my home state) that is currently in clinical trials for a Norovirus vaccine. Hopefully, will be out in a few years. http://ligocyte.com/ :)

Benzethonium Chloride

Benzalkonium Chloride

 

The ingredient that claims to kill noro is the 1st ingredient above. The Soapopular contains the 2nd ingredient & DOES NOT claim to kill viruses.

Just querying the spelling again of the chloride we need to look out for. I think some are suggesting the second product is okay.

Thankyou for the information, would hate to come down with noro for my next cruise. Have always been careful and so far avoided any problems.

Many thanks :)

Just querying the spelling again of the chloride we need to look out for. I think some are suggesting the second product is okay.

 

Thankyou for the information, would hate to come down with noro for my next cruise. Have always been careful and so far avoided any problems.

 

Many thanks :)

Both are OK and effective.:)

As with all ingredients, do look up any side effects. From the few short internet searches I have done on these ingredients, I believe that these products are not recommended for children (in case of accidental ingestion) or asthmatics...

Why not astmatics?