As more Americans plan to travel this year and potentially bring home more than souvenirs, Cleaning for Health and Appearance becomes a key strategy to maintaining a healthy workforce. 

Following are some diseases that are on the radar of infectious disease specialists in the upcoming warmer months. 

RSV

Experts are keeping a close eye on whether respiratory syncytial virus, RSV, will spike again this summer, as it did last year. usually peaks in the fall and winter but spiked in summer last year.

The respiratory virus, which can cause mild to severe illness, is most common in infants and young children. RSV is highly contagious, often spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces.

Prevention strategies from the CDC include covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or upper shirt sleeve, washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as door handles. 

Norovirus

Although it’s commonly known as the “winter vomiting disease,” the notorious stomach bug also makes an appearance at summer camps and on cruise ships. 

 This very contagious virus can be prevented by washing your hands often, even after you feel better, according to the CDC, which also notes that hand sanitizer does not work well against norovirus. Another prevention tip from the CDC is to immediately clean and disinfect any area after someone vomits or has diarrhea.

COVID-19

Although the federal government declared the end of the national public health emergency in May and U.S. hospitalizations are at a record low, the disease still poses a threat. China is currently facing a projection of 65 million cases per week this month, raising awareness about the importance of booster shots to help protect against infection. 

“It makes complete sense for adults — especially those in high-risk groups, including the elderly and those with chronic disease — to have a bivalent shot if they haven’t already had one,” Dr. Marc Siegel, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said in a Fox News online story.

Enteroviruses

Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that can cause a wide range of illnesses, from mild to severe. Common symptoms include fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, muscle aches and rash. 

Enteroviruses cause an estimated 10 million to 15 million illnesses annually in the United States, usually in the summer and fall. The viruses are spread through contact with infected people or contaminated objects, as well as via respiratory droplets — for example, if someone who is infected sneezes or coughs on you or if you touch a surface contaminated by the germs. 

The viruses can live for several days on surfaces, so it is important to wash your hands frequently to prevent infection. The CDC also advises cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces to help avoid becoming ill from the virus.

Mister Kleen has been a leading provider of contract cleaning services to Commercial and High Security facilities since 1976. Our 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.