In 2003, the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) – virus was identified. SARS-CoV is thought to be an animal virus from an as-yet-uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats, that spread to other animals (civet cats) and first infected humans in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002.

An epidemic of SARS affected 26 countries and resulted in more than 8000 cases in 2003. Since then, a small number of cases have occurred as a result of laboratory accidents or, possibly, through animal-to-human transmission (Guangdong, China).

Transmission of SARS-CoV is primarily from person to person. It appears to have occurred mainly during the second week of illness, which corresponds to the peak of virus excretion in respiratory secretions and stool, and when cases with severe disease start to deteriorate clinically. Most cases of human-to-human transmission occurred in the health care setting, in the absence of adequate infection control precautions. Implementation of appropriate infection control practices brought the global outbreak to an end.

Symptoms are influenza-like and include fever, malaise, myalgia, headache, diarrhoea, and shivering (rigors). No individual symptom or cluster of symptoms has proved to be specific for a diagnosis of SARS. Although fever is the most frequently reported symptom, it is sometimes absent on initial measurement, especially in elderly and immunosuppressed patients.

Cough (initially dry), shortness of breath, and diarrhoea are present in the first and/or second week of illness. Severe cases often evolve rapidly, progressing to respiratory distress and requiring intensive care.

Based on the pandemic experience of SARS, we realised the importance of staying healthy and a germ free environment is essential. Sanitizing our hands or limbs and disinfecting the offices and homes post a great challenge not only for individuals and also the companies and authorities.

There isn’t much products in the market that can keep us safe away from bacteria and germs most of the time and mostly what we can find on the shelves, are short life products. Thus, we strive to develop a product that gives us the solution. The initial focus of the R&D is towards keeping individuals safe in a fully enclosed air-conditioned area where most of us lives or work in most of the time. Then, came the idea of keeping the toilets and restrooms as “clean” as possible to avoid spread of viruses and germs; research shows viruses, bacteria, and germs are most active in air-conditioned and wet environment.

In late 2003, the first Germ & Smell Killer was introduced to the market.  With little awareness and limited marketing budgets, the sales were slow and below expectation.

In 2006, we began the improvement on our product design and effectiveness, together with a team of dedicated R&D engineers, we successfully improved on the design and performance of Germ & Smell Killer with extensive testing under an enclosed and air-conditioned environment. Germ & Smell Killer was tested and approved by PSB (S’pore), and simultaneously obtained a CE-certification.

In early 2017, the design was further improved by combining activated-carbon air filters together with Ultra-Violet technologies for our air-purifier. We began small-scale manufacturing here in Singapore and the final Germ & Smell Killer was born. We have successfully distribute the product to the Philippines and parts of Asia Pacific Regions.

For the last 10 over years, our products can be seen all over Singapore in many different industries. In the F&B industry, from Fast-food chains to Kopitiams, restaurants and Central kitchens. In the Education Sector, our products are installed in kindergartens, childcare centres and Schools. In the hospitality industry, we have served SPAs, and hotels.   We have also served public buildings like the Community Centres, Turf Club, Military Buildings, Churches and Homes.

In late 2019, we had learned information about highly dangerous and potential viruses that could be developing in China, and was advise not to visit China to avoid being infected. Soon enough, in Dec 2019, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in Wuhan, China, and has since spread globally, resulting in an ongoing pandemic. As of 22 May 2020, more than 5.1 million cases have been reported across 188 countries and territories, resulting in more than 333,000 deaths. More than 1.95 million people have recovered.

Common symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and loss of smell and taste. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) likely precipitated by cytokine storm, multi-organ failure, septic shock, and blood clots. The time from exposure to onset of symptoms is typically around five days but may range from two to fourteen days.

The virus is primarily spread between people during close contact, most often via small droplets produced by coughing, sneezing, and talking. The droplets usually fall to the ground or onto surfaces rather than travelling through air over long distances. Less commonly, people may become infected by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their face. It is most contagious during the first three days after the onset of symptoms, although spread is possible before symptoms appear, and from people who do not show symptoms. The standard method of diagnosis is by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) from a nasopharyngeal swab. Chest CT imaging may also be helpful for diagnosis in individuals where there is a high suspicion of infection based on symptoms and risk factors; however, guidelines do not recommend using CT imaging for routine screening.

Recommended measures to prevent infection include frequent hand washing, maintaining physical distance from others (especially from those with symptoms), quarantine (especially for those with symptoms), covering coughs, and keeping unwashed hands away from the face. In addition, the use of a face covering is recommended for those who suspect they have the virus and their caregivers. Recommendations for face covering use by the general public vary, with some authorities recommending for them, some recommending against them (to conserve masks for healthcare workers), and others requiring their use. There is limited evidence for or against the use of masks (medical or other) in healthy individuals in the wider community.

With the early knowledge of the new virus, we have started to look into how we can further improve our existing germ & smell killer to apprehend this potential pandemic in the making. Our focus is on the eliminating of viruses, providing clean and safe air for the industries as well as end users.

Then came the rapid spread of the virus globally, putting travelling to a standstill. Shops, offices, schools, restaurants and hotels are forced to close. People are forced to stay home and avoid going to public areas. But nevertheless life still has to carry on, and people still need to get out of the house. This puts these people in higher risk. Mask became out of stock and a regimental item for each and every individual, sick or no sick.  Prices of the protective items rocketed and made many unreachable to it as many faced loss of incomes overnight.

Our R&D look into how to keep the living environment safer at home and how to help those who need to be in and out of the house regularly not to bring back virus to their families members at home. We also look into how we can clean each mask and let it be safe to reuse. We wished to bring down our cost of the product too, to allow more individuals to benefit from it.

In March 2020, G9 Germ Killer was born. We have successfully developed new and improved models and we also manage to bring down the cost of the product without compromising the efficiency and effectiveness of the product. We also managed to tackle on the reuse of mask and disinfecting of potential virus/bacteria carrying items like the keys, mobile devices, remote controls and etc. We came out with a model that has the capability of carrying out disinfecting of the area as well as the mask, in a single unit.

We would like to say to everyone, that UV-C Light is not a new technology, and has been used by many professionals in many institutions, hospitals and central kitchens for effective disinfecting premises, as well as equipments. UV-C Light are also used in HAVC systems which are hidden to us.

We reckon the possible harmful expects of UV-C Light, humans or animals being expose to it, over period of time. Thus, we assure you our design of our products, has taken these all these expects into considerations and preventions. Our products are easy to use, ready to use and need no professional knowledge to operate. Most important, humans and animals can co-exist with the products during operating, safely.

We strive to constantly improve our design, effectiveness and coverage. We hope you would like our products and enjoy the benefits of it. Stay safe and we shall overcome the pandemic, together.

Benny Huang