Tips For Combating A Potential H1N1 Resurgence Though media attention was sensational, a realistic threat remains. By: Peter J. Sheldon, Sr. S Peter J. Sheldon, Sr., a Certified Building Service Executive (CBSE) brings over 18 years of experience in the building serv-ice contractor industry to his position as vice president of operations of Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System ® . Sheldon works closely with the Coverall sales and operations teams to spearhead initiatives that further the company’s strategic objectives and help the company develop the most effi-cient and innovative cleaning processes available. Sheldon is among the elite group of build-ing service professionals to qual-ify for the CBSE designation. Since the start of the H1N1 pandemic, there has been a lot of talk about how this influenza virus was sensationalized by the media. But, the American public may not understand how deeply H1N1 has affected both U.S. and world communities since 2009. While the affects of the pandemic weren’t as severe in the U.S. as anticipated, the global H1N1 death count did reach 17,700 by April 2009, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Experts now speculate on the possibility of some degree of resurgence of the virus for the 2010 flu season. With these warnings in mind, it is important to remember that H1N1, as well as all strains of influenza, doesn’t only affect victims during the “flu season.” In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has continued to identify new cases occurring over the course of the year. The H1N1 risk is still there and continues to pose a serious health threat to affected individuals. Recognizing the H1N1 danger and taking appropriate action is an important part of why we were able to combat the H1N1 pandemic so effec-tively over the course of 2009. While H1N1 is a particularly virulent strain, influenza in general is one of the top pathogenic killers in our society. Instead of resting on our laurels after managing the 2009 pandemic, we should use the tremendous resources we have built up to prepare for the potential resurgence during the upcoming flu sea-son in 2010. A recent study estimated that in the U.S., annu-al influenza epidemics result in approximately 600,000 life-years lost, three million hospitalized days and 30 million outpatient visits, resulting in medical costs of $10 billion annually. According to this study, lost earnings due to ill-ness and loss of life amounted to over $15 billion for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Cleaning . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Infection Control . By frequently cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, you decrease the chances of building occupants being sickened by pathogens. 40 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • November 2010 Image courtesy of ERC Wiping Products Inc.
CMM – Archives Nov 2010: 40
