Sharp Corp. says its air purifying technology is effective in inhibiting bird flu virus.
The electronics maker said Tuesday it plans to develop air cleaners and air conditioners using its Plasmacluster Ion technology to help protect humans from the disease.
In joint research with Vietnam's Pasteur Institute, Sharp found that highly concentrated ions generated through a chemical reaction using the technology can decrease the infectiousness of H7N9 virus by 99 percent for about 47 minutes in an environment of 1 cubic meter.
The first human infection with the avian H7N9 virus was confirmed by the World Health Organization in 2013.
Sharp's technology has already proved effective at removing other influenza viruses, bacteria and mold spores, the company said.