Sanitize your Office free from Flu in Las Vegas and Henderson Nevada
The flu is widespread, across 49 US states right now. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that's the first time that's happened in their 13 years of tracking the flu. The epidemic has been especially tough among baby boomers. CDC officials say that could be in part because they weren't exposed to this year's most aggressive H3N2 strain as children.
It's nearly impossible to predict how this flu season will end, as flu viruses don't follow predictable models from year to year.
Flu is hitting the country hard, especially in schools. There's no official tally, but there are reports of closures of a day or more in at least a dozen states because so many students and teachers are ill.
School across at least a dozen states have closed their doors for a day or longer this flu season as the illness spreads at a rate that officials say they've never seen.
The 74 reported Monday that the closures—a result of "excessive absences and concerns about the [flu] virus"—have spanned about 20 districts or individual schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
"What has made this [year] set apart for us...is the degree of severity and how far it's been spread," Jill Siler, superintendent of the Gunter Independent School District in Texas, told Newsweek. "It's unlike anything we've seen before."
So far, there have been 14 deaths and 567 hospitalizations in Clark County this season, with another seven deaths and 331 hospitalizations in Washoe County. That’s worse than what Nevada saw in the previous two flu seasons, though state epidemiologist Dr. Izhan Azzam noted that those seasons were particularly mild.
“We tend to forget that the pandemic flu or the seasonal flu arrives every year,” Azzam said. “From time to time it’s more severe than usual.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported widespread influenza activity in 49 states, including Nevada, earlier this month. Flu-related hospitalizations increased to 22.7 per 100,000 people for the week that ended Jan. 6, according to the CDC’s tracking network. The rate for the week prior was 13.7 per 100,000 people.
By comparison, the overall hospitalization rate for the 2014-2015 flu season, which was considered one of the most severe, was 29.9 per 100,000 people. CDC officials already have labeled this year’s flu season as severe, but exactly how severe remains to be seen.
According to the Center for diseases control and prevention or CDC
How To Clean and Disinfect Schools To Help Slow the Spread of Flu by a Company like Mayberry’s Maids
1. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing
Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
2. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often
Follow your school’s standard procedures for routine cleaning and disinfecting. Typically, this means daily sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Some schools may also require daily disinfecting these items. Standard procedures often call for disinfecting specific areas of the school, like bathrooms.
Immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled. If surfaces or objects are soiled with body fluids or blood, use gloves, and other standard precautions to avoid coming into contact with the fluid. Remove the spill, and then clean and disinfect the surface.
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3. Simply do routine cleaning and disinfecting
It is important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Most studies have shown that the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for up to 48 hours after being deposited on a surface. However, it is not necessary to close schools to clean or disinfect every surface in the building to slow the spread of flu. Also, if students and staff are dismissed because the school cannot function normally (e.g., high absenteeism during a flu outbreak), it is not necessary to do extra cleaning and disinfecting.
Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are sufficient to remove or kill them. Special cleaning and disinfecting processes, including wiping down walls and ceilings, frequently using room air deodorizers, and fumigating, are not necessary or recommended. These processes can irritate eyes, noses, throats, and skin; aggravate asthma, and cause other serious side effects.
4. Clean and disinfect correctly
Always follow label directions on cleaning products and disinfectants. Wash surfaces with a general household cleaner to remove germs. Rinse with water, and follow with an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs. Read the label to make sure it states that EPA has approved the product for effectiveness against influenza A virus.
If a surface is not visibly dirty, you can clean it with an EPA-registered product that both cleans (removes germs) and disinfects (kills germs) instead. Be sure to read the label directions carefully, as there may be a separate procedure for using the product as a cleaner or as a disinfectant. Disinfection usually requires the product to remain on the surface for a certain period of time (e.g., letting it stand for 3 to 5 minutes).
Use disinfecting wipes on electronic items that are touched often, such as phones and computers. Pay close attention to the directions for using disinfecting wipes. It may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the stated length of contact time. Make sure that the electronics can withstand the use of liquids for cleaning and disinfect.
5. Use products safely
Pay close attention to hazard warnings and directions on product labels. Cleaning products and disinfectants often call for the use of gloves or eye protection. For example, gloves should always be worn to protect your hands when working with bleach solutions.
Do not mix cleaners and disinfectants unless the labels indicate it is safe to do so. Combining certain products (such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners) can result in serious injury or death.
Ensure that custodial staff, teachers, and others who use cleaners and disinfectants read and understand all instruction labels and understand safe and appropriate use. This might require that instructional materials and training be provided in other languages.
HOW AIR DUCT CLEANING CAN HELP WITH PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF FLU
It's nearly impossible to predict how this flu season will end, as flu viruses don't follow predictable models from year to year.
Flu is hitting the country hard, especially in schools. There's no official tally, but there are reports of closures of a day or more in at least a dozen states because so many students and teachers are ill.
School across at least a dozen states have closed their doors for a day or longer this flu season as the illness spreads at a rate that officials say they've never seen.
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| Mayberry's Maids Office Cleaning and Disinfecting |
"What has made this [year] set apart for us...is the degree of severity and how far it's been spread," Jill Siler, superintendent of the Gunter Independent School District in Texas, told Newsweek. "It's unlike anything we've seen before."
So far, there have been 14 deaths and 567 hospitalizations in Clark County this season, with another seven deaths and 331 hospitalizations in Washoe County. That’s worse than what Nevada saw in the previous two flu seasons, though state epidemiologist Dr. Izhan Azzam noted that those seasons were particularly mild.
“We tend to forget that the pandemic flu or the seasonal flu arrives every year,” Azzam said. “From time to time it’s more severe than usual.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported widespread influenza activity in 49 states, including Nevada, earlier this month. Flu-related hospitalizations increased to 22.7 per 100,000 people for the week that ended Jan. 6, according to the CDC’s tracking network. The rate for the week prior was 13.7 per 100,000 people.
By comparison, the overall hospitalization rate for the 2014-2015 flu season, which was considered one of the most severe, was 29.9 per 100,000 people. CDC officials already have labeled this year’s flu season as severe, but exactly how severe remains to be seen.
According to the Center for diseases control and prevention or CDC
How To Clean and Disinfect Schools To Help Slow the Spread of Flu by a Company like Mayberry’s Maids
1. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing
Cleaning removes germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection.
Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. This process does not necessarily clean dirty surfaces or remove germs, but by killing germs on a surface after cleaning, it can further lower the risk of spreading infection.
Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
2. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often
Follow your school’s standard procedures for routine cleaning and disinfecting. Typically, this means daily sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Some schools may also require daily disinfecting these items. Standard procedures often call for disinfecting specific areas of the school, like bathrooms.
Immediately clean surfaces and objects that are visibly soiled. If surfaces or objects are soiled with body fluids or blood, use gloves, and other standard precautions to avoid coming into contact with the fluid. Remove the spill, and then clean and disinfect the surface.
Top of Page
3. Simply do routine cleaning and disinfecting
It is important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Most studies have shown that the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for up to 48 hours after being deposited on a surface. However, it is not necessary to close schools to clean or disinfect every surface in the building to slow the spread of flu. Also, if students and staff are dismissed because the school cannot function normally (e.g., high absenteeism during a flu outbreak), it is not necessary to do extra cleaning and disinfecting.
Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are sufficient to remove or kill them. Special cleaning and disinfecting processes, including wiping down walls and ceilings, frequently using room air deodorizers, and fumigating, are not necessary or recommended. These processes can irritate eyes, noses, throats, and skin; aggravate asthma, and cause other serious side effects.
4. Clean and disinfect correctly
Always follow label directions on cleaning products and disinfectants. Wash surfaces with a general household cleaner to remove germs. Rinse with water, and follow with an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs. Read the label to make sure it states that EPA has approved the product for effectiveness against influenza A virus.
If a surface is not visibly dirty, you can clean it with an EPA-registered product that both cleans (removes germs) and disinfects (kills germs) instead. Be sure to read the label directions carefully, as there may be a separate procedure for using the product as a cleaner or as a disinfectant. Disinfection usually requires the product to remain on the surface for a certain period of time (e.g., letting it stand for 3 to 5 minutes).
Use disinfecting wipes on electronic items that are touched often, such as phones and computers. Pay close attention to the directions for using disinfecting wipes. It may be necessary to use more than one wipe to keep the surface wet for the stated length of contact time. Make sure that the electronics can withstand the use of liquids for cleaning and disinfect.
5. Use products safely
Pay close attention to hazard warnings and directions on product labels. Cleaning products and disinfectants often call for the use of gloves or eye protection. For example, gloves should always be worn to protect your hands when working with bleach solutions.
Do not mix cleaners and disinfectants unless the labels indicate it is safe to do so. Combining certain products (such as chlorine bleach and ammonia cleaners) can result in serious injury or death.
Ensure that custodial staff, teachers, and others who use cleaners and disinfectants read and understand all instruction labels and understand safe and appropriate use. This might require that instructional materials and training be provided in other languages.
HOW AIR DUCT CLEANING CAN HELP WITH PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF FLU
It is a common suggestion to isolate those who are sick with the flu. From asking someone to stay home from work to avoid the room of someone who is ill, keeping your distance from someone infected with the flu virus is a common preventative measure.
While avoiding the room keeps you from direct contact with the infected person, it doesn’t necessarily remove all exposure to the illness. The flu virus is an airborne virus, and the air we breathe in a home or work environment is circulated throughout our air ducts on a regular basis.
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| Mayberry's Maids Air Duct Cleaning Services |
For flu outbreaks in hospitals, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration suggests that patients be put into a room with isolated HVAC systems and exhausts. While most people can’t set up isolated HVAC systems in their home or workplace, they can help control viruses from spreading by cleaning their air ducts.
Air duct cleaning involves disinfecting air ducts and changing HVAC filters. With HEPA air filters installed and your air ducts disinfected, you can breathe with peace of mind knowing that the air ducts are clean, even when someone is sick.
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