The purpose of the project was to identify how much of a virus such as Norovirus remains airborne after being projected from the mouth, or tube in this case. The researchers found that while only a small percentage – 0.02 percent – of the virus remained airborne, the amount was enough to cause infection in another host.
“Those airborne particles could also land on nearby surfaces like tables and door handles, causing environmental contamination," Lee-Ann Jaykus, a North Carolina State professor of food, bioprocessing and nutrition sciences, told CNET. "And norovirus can hang around for weeks, so anyone that touches that table and then puts their hand to their mouth could be at risk for infection."
Important work like this is not unprecedented. Vomiting Larry, a similar machine, though one with a more winsome visage, was developed by Catherine Makison-Booth of the Health and Safety Laboratory in 2013.
