Cases of norovirus are on the upswing in the region, and commercial cleaning companies like Mister Kleen are helping to keep this highly contagious virus from spreading in the workplace.  

Prior to the rise of COVID-19 and RSV, Mister Kleen’s virus mitigation services focused on flu and norovirus. Our commercial cleaning services have been helping prevent outbreaks in commercial and high security facilities in the D.C. metro region for decades. 

Here is what you need to know about this virus and what you can do to keep it from spreading in your facility. 

What is norovirus?

Norovirus is sometimes called the stomach flu or stomach bug, according to the CDC. But it is not related to the flu, which is caused by the influenza virus.

It is highly contagious because it takes only a few particles of norovirus to make other people sick, and people with the illness can shed billions of norovirus particles.

How do you get infected with norovirus?

According to the CDC, you can get norovirus from:

• Having direct contact with an infected person
• Consuming contaminated food or water
• Touching contaminated surfaces and then putting your unwashed hands in your mouth

What are the symptoms of norovirus?

The most common symptoms of norovirus are:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• nausea
• stomach pain

But other symptoms include:

• fever
• headache
• body aches

How can I prevent getting norovirus from spreading?

Similar to what the CDC encouraged throughout the pandemic, employees should practice proper hand hygiene by washing hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

Hand sanitizers can be used in addition to hand washing, but it is not a substitute for washing your hands with warm water and soap, the CDC says.

The CDC also recommends thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, particularly after someone vomits or has diarrhea. Without the proper safety and cleaning precautions in place, norovirus can spread quickly throughout the workplace.

What if my facility has an outbreak?

If your facility has a norovirus outbreak, our teams can be rapidly dispatched to help prevent the spread of infection with an Enhanced Kleen. 

After cleaning all high-touch areas to ensure surfaces do not contain visible dirt, our specialty teams can employ Electrostatic Spraying technology for an enhanced deep cleaning.

Our specially trained crews are highly experienced in successfully treating facilities in compliance with federal guidelines. 

As a leading provider in the high security sector, Mister Kleen can also offer specialty crews that include appropriately cleared personnel to meet the needs of any facility, including SCIFs.

Mister Kleen works closely with each of our partners to meet their particular needs and budget.

Our specialists are ready to provide custom quotes for existing clients who want to expand their current scope of work, as well as for new customers seeking an Enhanced Kleen for their facility.

A leading provider of contract cleaning services to Commercial and High-Security facilities since 1976, Mister Kleen‘s primary service area is the DC Metro region. We also provide a variety of interior and exterior specialty services. For more information, contact us at 703-719-6900.