Shikibo is engaged in the development of materials which are user-friendly, healthy and comfortable in use. Among others, deodorized antibacterial textile "NONSTAC" has been enjoying a good reputation as one of our long selling products for over 20 years since its release. In addition, bacteriostatic textile "NOMOS" also has good reviews through its over 10-year performance in clinical settings among many hospitals nation-wide. Shikibo has developed the anti-virus treated textile "FLUTECT" based on these manufacturing techniques and know-how.

Avian influenza infection has become a serious concern in recent years around the world. It went around in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa by 2006 and its pandemic seems to be expanding. Avian influenza causes not only a significant economic loss to the poultry industry, but also severe symptoms to people who contact with the virus, so that the epidemic is viewed as a great concern in terms of public health. To reduce the risk of transmission to poultry raisers and health care workers, there is a need for the development of versatile textile with anti-virus effect against avian influenza virus. Shikibo has continued the research to establish the further advanced anti-virus treatment using its deodorized antibacterial and bacteriostatic processes for textile products as well as its know-how on keeping washing durability. Finally, through the collaborative research with National Agriculture and Food Research Organization National Institute of Animal Health, an independent administrative agency, we succeeded in developing the textile "FLUTECT" with antiviral effect against avian influenza virus and excellent durability after washing.

Avian influenza is the poultry influenza A virus infection whose origin is said to be an enteric virus of duck. It is believed that this influenza virus is non-toxic to duck, their natural host, but once it contacts with chicken and repeats infection among chickens, the virus becomes a high pathogenic strain with high lethality. High pathogenic avian influenza is designated as legal infectious disease by Domestic Animal Infectious Diseases Control Law, so that if there is a doubt that poultry has infected with this epidemic, the case must immediately be reported to the regulatory authority and actions such as killing, burying or burning sterilization of poultry must be taken. In Japan, there was an outbreak of high pathogenic avian influenza by H5N1 sub-type virus during 2003 and 2004. It also went around in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa by 2006 and its pandemic seems to be expanding. The epidemic causes a significant economic loss to the poultry industry. In addition, since there is possibility that this high pathogenic avian influenza virus mutates into a new virus and causes globally rampant outbreak as an infectious disease which causes severe symptoms to people who contacted with the virus, avian influenza is viewed as a great concern in terms of public health. Human beings had faced three rampant outbreaks of new influenza viruses in 20th century: Spanish influenza (H1N1 subtype) which killed more than 20 million people in 1918 and 1919; Asian influenza (H2N2 subtype); Hong Kong influenza (H3N2 subtype). To insure such things do not happen in the future, it is critical to take measures to prevent avian influenza infection.

When FLUTECT was sensitized to the virus, virus infection value decreased below the measurable limit, indicating its antiviral effect. In addition, it retained the same effect even after 50-time washing, indicating that its anti-virus effect is not reduced by washing.

Will be released for spring/summer 2007 products including working clothes for coop operation, uniform for food industry, white coat for research and medical institutions, down futon cover´s casing material, futon cover, bed sheet, pillow case, pupils´ uniform, clothing for nursing-care, pajamas/night clothing, towel, dish cloth, face mask, filter.