Hand Hygiene as Flu Protective Measure

05/01/2009

As H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) spreads, keeping hands clean is one of the most important ways to prevent infection and illness. "Frequent handwashing is probably the single most effective and simplest intervention you can do to protect yourself and your family," according to Dr. Judy Daly, spokesperson for the American Society for Microbiology.

"Influenza A viruses, of which swine flu is one, are fragile viruses that can be easily destroyed through proper hygiene, including use of soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers," says Daly, director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratories, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City.

Washing hands with soap and clean water for 20 seconds is a sensible strategy for hand hygiene in non-healthcare settings and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts. If soap and clean water are not available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer is recommended.

Research* has shown that flu viruses can survive up to 48 hours on hard, nonporous surfaces and up to 12 hours on cloth, paper, and tissues. Measurable quantities of influenza A viruses can be transferred from stainless steel surfaces to hands for up to 24 hours and from tissues to hands for up to 15 minutes. Virus can survive on hands for up to 5 minutes after transfer from environmental surfaces.

"Flu viruses most frequently enter the body when contaminated hands touch mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and mouth. Frequent hand hygiene certainly makes this transfer less likely," says Daly.

The American Society for Microbiology has downloadable educational hand hygiene materials, including posters and brochures for children and adults, available at www.washup.org. The site also contains information on ordering printed materials.

*Bean, B. et al. Survival of influenza viruses on environmental surfaces. J Infect Disese. 1982 Jul;146(1):47-51..

Numbers Rise Regarding Swine Flu Outbreak: Good Hand Hygiene One of the Best Preventatives Against Spread of Germs

In response to the rise in the number of confirmed cases of swine influenza A(H1N1) reported in the United States, Mexico and around the world, the Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency in the United States.

Earlier, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr. Margaret Chan had determined that current events constituted a public health emergency of international concern.

Major health organizations, such as the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada agree that handwashing and hand sanitizing with an alcohol-based hand rub are especially critical to minimize the spread of germs during times of illness outbreak. The CDC recommends:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
• Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Bio Shield Technologies offers comprehensive programs to help you meet the CDC recommendations, including effective hand sanitizers and cleaners to help facilities reduce the spread of germs. For more information on Swine Influenza, log on to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov .

HandClens Response To H1N1

DATE: April 27, 2009

TO: OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS

FROM:WOODWARD LABS/ ALCOHOL FREE HANDCLENS

RE: Recent Swine Flu News

With the WHO (World Health Organization) announcement that they are raising the pandemic alert to level 4 (confirmed person to person transmission of illness), Woodward Labs wants you to know we are prepared for the possible Swine flu epidemic with an ample supply of our HandClens® Instant Hand Sanitizers to meet the needs of the public and your customers. The Swine Flu has now been confirmed on 2 continents and has infected over 2,000 people.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the best way to prevent the spread of flu and colds is to wash hands frequently. If soap and water are not available, Hand Sanitizers are the next best prevention. HandClens Instant Hand Sanitizers kill all 3 types of germs: viruses, bacteria and fungi, including Influenza Type A, of which Swine Flu H1N1 is a subtype. will continue to keep you updated and informed.