Question Of The Week: Ebola And Cleaning Practices

QoWAn additional layer of screening aimed at identifying people who may be infected with the Ebola virus began this past weekend at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Under the program, passengers originating from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have their temperatures taken, and Customs and Border Protection staffers ask questions about their health and possible exposure to Ebola. This testing is expected to begin at four other airports later this week—Washington-Dulles, Newark Liberty, Chicago’s O’Hare International, and Hartsfield-Jackson International in Atlanta.

Meanwhile facility managers in all types of buildings are concerned with what measures they can take to help prevent an occupant or staff member from possibly becoming infected. Ebola is killed with hospital-grade disinfectants (such as household bleach), notes the CDC in its “Q&A on Transmission” page. Ebola dried on surfaces such as doorknobs and countertops can survive for several hours; however, virus in body fluids (such as blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.

What additional cleaning measures have you implemented, or plan to implement, to address this potential threat? Or do the cleaning protocols you already have in place address the above concerns?

Share your feedback and suggestions in the LEAVE A COMMENT section below.