A Marseille laboratory has developed an active ingredient capable of killing the virus as soon as it lands on a textile.

Tens of thousands of masks impregnated with this substance are in production.

Washable 20 times, they should sell for between 5 and 10 euros each. 

Virus killer masks.

A French laboratory based in Marseille has been working for six months on the development of an active principle capable of destroying the new coronavirus when it lands on textiles.

Tens of thousands of masks are being made.

Reusable, they are made of cotton and polyester and are impregnated with this active ingredient tested on the viral strain.

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"On the outer face of the mask, anti-viral technology is applied. This means that when the virus is deposited through the intermediary of postilions, the virus will immediately be picked up by the tissue. We will destroy its membrane and therefore it will become non-infectious. This is called a biocide. We destroy a virus in contact with a tissue in the same way we will kill an insect ", explains, Nathalie Hagège, researcher in molecular biology, founder of ProNeem , at the origin of this innovation.

Sprays to spray in public places?

In addition to masks, the active principle could then be marketed as a spray.

"When I arrive in a public place, I am going to spray a product that will kill the virus. It's revolutionary, but these are really devices that are expected today to block the virus," says Nathalie Hagège. 

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While waiting for the sprays, the masks washable 20 times will be sold between 5 and 10 euros each in pharmacies and tobacco shops.

Nursing staff and the textile industry are on the alert.