Kill a Virus, Win a Prize

Along with the secrets to losing weight onboard while still stuffing yourself at the buffet and a surefire way to attain a free cabin upgrade, many cruisers are also searching for the Holy Grail of norovirus protection. From obsessive hand washing to investing in all sorts of hand sanitizers, Cruise Critic members have likely tried it all. Now we’ve been alerted to a new product that claims to kill norovirus for hours. Is it the solution we’ve been seeking?

Zylast is a new product by Innovative BioDefense that comes in the form of hand sanitizers, moisturizing lotions and foaming hand cleansers. We spoke with the company’s scientific and regulatory consultant Steven E. Czerwinski as well as company CEO Colette Cozean, who claim Zylast has three benefits its competitors (Purell, et al.) don’t:

It contains Benzethonium Chloride (BZT), which can kill bacteria and viruses — unlike the standard alcohol-based sanitizer that just gets rid of bacteria. Cozean cites National Institutes of Health toxicology reports stating BZT is not toxic.

It has been formulated for “persistence” and has been proven to kill germs up to four hours, at 90 percent efficacy or better, even with repeated hand washing. Most hand sanitizers evaporate after 15 seconds, Czerwinski says.

It contains emollients to moisturize and provide skin protection, so your hands don’t get dried out from using the product.

The two said that in tests, Zylast has killed 99.9 percent of norovirus germs immediately and is still killing 97 percent after an hour. (Cozean assured us the tests are conducted by seven independent labs.) The company is testing it at six hours after application. It claims no other product on the market is FDA-approved to kill germs so long after initial use.

The company is working to get aboard cruise ships, and its products will be found in the medical centers of Carnival, Princess and Royal Caribbean ships come fall. If the cruise lines like them, you might find them as the sanitizer of choice in gangway and dining room sanitizer dispensers.

Skeptical? Intrigued? Try the products yourself. We have three Zylast gift packs to give away to anyone who is subscribed to the Lido Deck Blog as of 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. We’ll pick the winners at random and reach out to them Friday at 5 p.m EDT. The winners have 72 hours to claim their prizes. Unclaimed prizes will be added to the Lido Deck prize pool, Powerball-style. (Note: Future prize lots will be divided, if necessary, at our discretion.)

Gift packs include antiseptic gel, antiseptic lotion and antiseptic foaming soap. (If you don’t win, you can always order the lotions and sanitizers online.)

And if you’ve found a great way to protect yourself against Norovirus, by all means, let us know. After you wash your hands, of course.

Sign up for your own Lido Deck subscription.

Learn all about the norovirus with our stay-healthy guide.

8 Responses to “Kill a Virus, Win a Prize”

1. Stephanie Ramos
   September 25th, 2012 @ 2:37 pm

   Sounds like the perfect addition to add to my packing list for my next cruise!

2. Mike
   September 25th, 2012 @ 4:19 pm

   This is plain silly! First.. in the original link it states “cruise ship virus” This is not a cruise ship virus, this is found anywhere that people exist.. so let’s not perpetuate inaccuracies! Second, no one needs any “miracle scrub” to reduce the chance of NV. Simply wash hands with soap ( plain or anti-bacterial ) under warm water for 15 seconds. This should be done after using the restroom, before and after eating, and anytime hands are visibly soiled. MOST IMPORTANT.. keep your hands out of any portal of entry on the body… (mouth, eyes, ears, nose, cut/scrape) This is best method BY FAR. Also, using anti microbial agents such as Benzethonium Chloride not only kill the unwanted pathogens on the body, but also kill normal flora that protect us.

   I do not use any of the gels that ships force upon you, I simply use hand washing, and I have never had a NV infection, and I have been on a ship that had a small NV outbreak.. yet I remained healthy.

3. joan frank
   September 25th, 2012 @ 9:12 pm

   this is a great idea . this should be left in passenger rooms along with the body lotions and shampoos. It is not fun being on a ship with noro been that done that but luckly I didn’t come down with it

4. Sasha
   September 26th, 2012 @ 12:22 am

   I’m willing to give this try.

5. Janice Hebert
   September 26th, 2012 @ 6:32 am

   Zylast should be put throughout the ship! After all, my health is important while on a ship! I worry about coming in contact with this norovirus, but if they had this product for me to use, especially when going to dinner, it would lessen my worry. I think all ships need to get on board with this product! Just reading about it makes me want to get some and try it! I feel like it’s definitely worth a try!

6. Charles
   September 26th, 2012 @ 11:01 am

   Not being a Medical Professional, but does ANYTHING kill a virus or just make it easier to wash off. I was not aware that any virus can actually be “killed”. If so, why hasn’t BZT killed the Flu Virus or even HIV. Both much more vicious Viruses.

7. CruiseDad
   September 26th, 2012 @ 12:25 pm

   I favor soap and water myself. But I did see somewhere a possible vacination for Noro that was testing well. I would do that. My daughter has sailed for 10 years and got it only once about 4 years ago.You can defend yourself even on a ship with a breakout by washing.

8. Jo AnnSmiarowski
   September 28th, 2012 @ 9:56 am

   I would use it.

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