A COLORLESS COMPOSITION COMPRISING SILVER PARTICLES AND WATER IS DISCLOSED. THE PARTICLES HAVE AN INTERIOR OF ELEMENTAL SILVER AND AN EXTERIOR OF IONIC SILVER OXIDE, WHEREIN THE SILVER PARTICLES ARE PRESENT IN THE WATER AT A LEVEL OF ABOUT 5-40 PPM. THE COMPOSITION MANIFESTS SIGNIFICANT ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES AND IS EFFECTIVE AGAINST AVIAN INFLUENZA VIRUS. METHODS OF USE OF THE COMPOSITION ARE DESCRIBED. NO SUITABLE FIGURE