Researchers from Columbia University and Texas A&M are testing far-UVC light as a new biosecurity tool to curb the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on U.S. poultry farms.
The project is supported by a $2 million Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge award from the United States Department of Agriculture. The technology, which was initially deployed to prevent the airborne transmission of COVID and flu viruses in restaurants, schools, and medical centers, is now being adapted for agricultural use to protect the poultry industry from devastating outbreaks.
The Mechanics of Far-UVC Light
Far-UVC light is a specific type of ultraviolet light that can inactivate bacteria and viruses. Unlike conventional germicidal UV light, far-UVC does not penetrate deeply enough to damage the eyes or skin of humans or animals, according to researchers.
David Brenner and David Welch of the Columbia University Center for Radiological Research state that their studies indicate far-UVC light provides a practical way to inactivate viruses in the air, thereby reducing the likelihood of transmission. Previous research by the Columbia team demonstrated the light’s ability to kill viruses on surfaces as well as within tiny airborne droplets.
Phases of the Research Study
The project is structured as a multiyear study moving from controlled environments to real-world applications.
The first stage involves laboratory experiments to measure the effectiveness of the light against H5N1 and H9N2—an avian influenza virus that causes less severe disease in birds—across water, surfaces, and the air.
The second stage utilizes an experimental animal housing unit designed by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This specialized isolator allows infected and uninfected chickens to share the same air without physical contact, enabling researchers to test if far-UVC can prevent airborne transmission.
The third and final phase, starting in February, will move the testing into a commercial setting. Led by Dr. Ziteng “Tim” Xu and Dr. Morgan Farnell of the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, this phase will implement the technology in a barn housing hundreds of chickens at the “Bill” Huffman ’53 Poultry Science Farm Complex.
Challenges in Farm Implementation
Moving the technology from a lab to a working barn introduces environmental variables. David Welch noted that testing in a poultry farm allows the team to see how the light performs amidst elements not found in controlled settings, specifically dust. Dr. Xu added that dust is a primary engineering challenge, as it can scatter or absorb far-UVC light before it reaches the birds.
To ensure the safety of the livestock, the team is conducting parallel studies to monitor the general health, development, and eyes of the chickens exposed to the light.
Economic and Public Health Stakes
The urgency for new tools follows a period where H5N1 ripped through U.S. farms, leading to the culling of tens of millions of chickens and causing egg prices to soar. Dr. Farnell noted that the current HPAI outbreak began around 2022 and has not ended, with the virus still appearing in Texas wildlife.
The stakes extend beyond the poultry industry:
- Animal Welfare: Reducing infections can lower mortality and economic losses across the supply chain.
- Cross-Species Spread: Avian flu has spread to other mammals, including dairy cows and a few dozen people, primarily farm workers.
- Pandemic Risk: While current avian flu viruses do not transmit between humans, scientists believe they may eventually develop that capability.
