ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MIWard off flu with germ-free desk

(02/20/12) - This is one of those times when "better late than never" just doesn't seem to apply. We are talking about flu season. This is the latest flu season since 1987.  The CDC credits a few factors for the late flu season.

First off, this season's vaccine appears to be well matched to the strains going around.

Second, our mild winter weather. Warmer temperatures mean people spend more time outside and less in, where germs seem to spread the fastest. The theory goes, it is harder to spread any bug if people are not cooped up and in close contact.

One place most of us spend either a lot of time indoors, or sharing germy surfaces, is the office. Your desk is a germ hub, especially if you share a work space. Your computer, phone and desk surface all need a good, daily de-germing.

Let's start with your computer. You want to kill germs, but you do not want to blow out your system.

Using canned air to clean debris from your keyboard is good, but spraying anything liquid, including disinfectant, is not a good idea. Use wipes and make sure they are not soaking or dripping. Before you use them on the keyboard or mouse, make sure your computer is turned off.

I asked our ABC12 computer gurus, and they say shutting down is probably the smart way to go. If your mouse and keyboard are attached by anything but a USB cable, you will need your computer turned off when you plug them back in, anyway. You can do a number on your computer if you are not careful. When you are done, use a lint-free cloth to dry.

You should also use a lint-free cloth on your computer screen, rather than anything damp. That rule applies for the screen on your phone as well.

The desk surface and the phone, including the mouth and ear pieces, should be cleaned. Keep hand sanitizer and tissue at your desk, to keep your hands clean.

Make sure you not only wash your hands regularly, but keep them out of your eyes, mouth and nose.  

Also if you are grabbing hand railings or door handles a lot, wash up after. Anything a lot of people touch should be considered a germ hazard.

Since more people are spending more time outdoors because of the mild temperatures, exposure to sunlight is a bit of an immune system booster, so that is helping.

One drawback: some trees and other little bits of mother nature are blooming early, so if the flu doesn't get you down, your allergies just might kick in early.