Cleaning Services – Green Cleaning and the Zika Virus

Cleaning Services – Green Cleaning and the Zika Virus

Professional cleaning services can help businesses stop the spread of the Zika virus through standardized green cleaning practices.

Zika Virus and Green Cleaning Services - Bakersfield CA

Professional Cleaning Services and the Zika Virus

The rapid and widespread devastation of the Zika virus is only now gaining appropriate media attention.

The virus is carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito; a species recently discovered in Arvin California earlier this year.

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Further compounding the matter, Bakersfield CA, and Fresno CA have been identified as #46, and #42, respectively, of the top 50 most at-risk cities in the United States.

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Confirmed cases of infection have already been reported throughout the United States, since 2015.

 

Zika-By-State-Report

 

Fighting Zika

Currently, there is no known cure for Zika.

One of the main issues contributing to the spread of Zika is that infected individuals may exhibit no outward signs of illness.

When present, the virus has symptoms that strongly resemble the flu:

  • Fever.
  • Joint ache.
  • Muscle pain.
  • Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye), and;
  • A rash.

The virus typically remains in the bloodstream for approximately one week, longer in some.

During this infection period, the virus can be passed to feeding mosquitos, creating additional carriers.

This makes the first step in fighting the Zika virus proper education regarding risks and symptoms.

If you believe you may be infected, it is imperative to have your blood tested by a doctor, especially if you are pregnant, or thinking about conceiving in the very near future.

Zika damages fetus'.

If you are infected, it is advised that women wait for a minimum of 8 weeks after the symptoms first appear and that men wait for a minimum of 6 months after symptoms appear.

If you are pregnant and exhibit any symptoms, see your doctor immediately.

 

Green Cleaning Services and Mosquitos

Taking informed action to prevent the spread of Zika is a good start, but the virus needs to be addressed at its root source; the mosquito population.

Mosquitoes lay eggs in standing water.

However, the Aedes Aegypti is more likely to develop in;

[sic]...pet food dishes, children's toys, tarps in people's backyards, clogged gutters, boats...[and]...rain buckets...[sic]

-Greg Williams, superintendent of mosquito control for Hudson County, N.J. - To Kill Mosquitoes That Spread Zika, Strike Before They Fly

This means that they are just as likely to lay eggs, hatch, grow, and infest the inside of a building as the outside.

 

Outside and In

The Aedes, apparently, does not travel very far.

This means that if we can remove its primary reproduction location, the mosquito will most likely die without producing more Zika carrying offspring.

The process is the same, both inside and outside of a home or office building:

  • Eliminate all standing water.
  • Thoroughly clean any item a human or pet may come into contact with, with hydrogen peroxide.
  • Use bleach if you must, but make sure to dilute it correctly, and be wary of the consequences of excessive use of chlorine bleach in a confined space.
  • Completely dry all areas where standing water was found.
  • If you believe a mosquito infestation is located near your building, contact your County's Mosquito and Vector Control.

 

Takeaway

Keeping in mind that there is no cure for the Zika virus, only preventative measures will prevent an epidemic outbreak.

  • Recognize the symptoms.
  • Isolate yourself from mosquitoes if you are infected.
  • If you believe you're infected, see a doctor immediately.
  • Remove standing water, inside and out.
  • Contact the local authorities if you have an infestation you cannot handle.
  • Use hydrogen peroxide to sterilize standing water inside, as opposed to chlorine-based bleach.

Remind your cleaning services staff to remain diligent, especially where there is a possibility of leaving standing water in gutters or buckets.

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of professional cleaning services for your business, contact us today for a free quote!

In Bakersfield CA, call 661-395-3009

In Fresno CA, call 559-473-1790


Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley

Vanguard Cleaning Systems of the Southern Valley