By: The Watcher, 10/15/2013

The highly infectious norovirus, or stomach flu bug, causes a very common illness, affecting hundreds of millions of people who come into contact with it through contaminated food, water, surfaces or other people every year. Now, scientists have discovered that copper and its more than 300 different alloys don't just fight norovirus - copper destroys it. Simulating contamination via touch, researchers found that norovirus could not survive on any dry surface containing more than 60% copper. The findings do not apply solely to norovirus either but to a range of various fungi and bacteria. Armed with this knowledge, lead study author Sarah Warnes noted that copper-rich antimicrobial surfacing in high-traffic public areas, especially care facilities, could reduce norovirus exposure and significantly cut down how many people get sick.