The days are getting darker and cooler, the leaves have fallen, and with the holidays approaching, we are all looking forward to welcoming guests into our homes to celebrate. One thing we don’t want to welcome into our homes this time of year is the flu and other winter respiratory viruses, like the common cold and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is currently surging in U.S. children.
“Influenza” – more commonly known as the flu – is a contagious respiratory illness that typically peaks during colder months when people are inside more, getting less sunlight, and dealing with the stress and food indulgences associated with the winter holidays. These factors make us more vulnerable to being exposed to the virus and more likely to get sick. In fact, every year, up to 11% of the U.S. population contracts the flu.1 Our younger family members are more likely to catch it; kids, on average, contract the flu once every two years, while adults contract it twice per decade.2
Is cold and flu season starting early this year?
While we haven’t worried too much about the flu over the past couple of years, experts were worried this year may be different – and they already appear to be right. With the loosening of COVID-19 precautions like mask-wearing and social distancing, and after a severe flu season in the southern hemisphere, medical experts were warning the U.S. to be prepared for a bad flu season this year, perhaps the worst one in five years.3 If the flu season in the U.S. follows what’s happened in Australia, it’s possible the flu season could peak early and have higher numbers of illnesses in children aged 5 to 9.
Indeed, as of Nov. 4, flu is already spreading around much of the country, with “high” or “very high” levels in 19 states and moderate in another four, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly flu surveillance report. That report also shows that flu hospitalizations haven’t been this high this early in the season in a decade. Additionally, U.S. pediatric hospital beds are more than three-quarters full because of high levels of RSV and other respiratory viruses (rhinovirus, enterovirus, adenovirus, and coronaviruses), which typically cause relatively mild, cold-like illnesses but, this year, are making children very sick.4,5
How do flu and other respiratory viruses spread?
The flu is a very contagious virus that spreads when people inhale mucous droplets projected into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, talks, or even breathes! These droplets can travel as far as six feet,6 where they land in the nose or mouth or are inhaled by healthy individuals. Another way to catch the flu is to touch a surface contaminated with the virus and then touch your nose, eyes, or mouth. Unfortunately, an infected person often becomes contagious even before they begin to show symptoms, which means that family members can pick it up at the office, school, or other public place and bring it home to spread to others, not even realizing they are sick. Other respiratory viruses like those that cause the common cold – and even COVID-19 – spread similarly.
How can I prevent the flu and cold-like illness?
Luckily, there are some things you can do to reduce the likelihood of someone in your family catching the flu or a cold virus. The best way to prevent you and your family members from getting sick is for everyone to get flu shots, which are safe for anyone older than six months of age.7 According to the CDC, kids younger than five and any child with chronic health conditions, like asthma and diabetes, are at higher risk of complications if they get sick. Of course, healthy, older children can also spread the flu to vulnerable family members like infants, older adults, pregnant women, or immunocompromised individuals. To be even more protected from illness this winter, it’s possible to get a COVID-19 vaccine (or booster) and a flu vaccine at the same time if you are eligible and the timing coincides. (Read more about this on the CDC site, "Getting a Flu Vaccine and a COVID-19 Vaccine at the Same Time.”) In addition to these vaccinations protecting you and your family, they are also good for public health – because while the vaccine reduces your chance of becoming severely ill, it also can reduce the strain in your community and on hospitals.
However, even with upwards of 150 million doses of the flu shot being administered in the U.S. each year,8 with a moderate-severe flu season coming, it's possible that someone in your family will get sick. Luckily, this doesn’t necessarily mean that everyone in the house will catch it – proper cleaning can help prevent the spread of germs from sick individuals to other household members. While it’s not possible to completely germ-proof your house, you can clean and disinfect items in your home to help prevent the spread of the flu or other respiratory viruses, particularly if someone in your home is ill.
Where do germs like the flu or RSV live at home?
The flu virus can live on some objects or surfaces for as long as 48 hours!9 Luckily, it’s not necessary to disinfect every single surface in your home – it’s important to focus on those touched by more hands, especially if someone in your home is ill or has recently been sick.
Here are some of your home’s highest-touched surfaces to focus disinfection on:
- Electronic devices and accessories like phones, tablets, computers, keyboards, and mice (check if your disinfectant is compatible with electronic touch screens before using)
- Kitchen surfaces like faucets, countertops, touch screens, door and cabinet handles, garbage receptacles, and light switches
- Bathroom surfaces like the toilet seats and handles, sink faucets, cabinet and doorknobs, countertops, and light switches
- Hard surfaces in shared/communal spaces like toys, remote controls, tables, doorknobs, and light switches
- Any surfaces or objects in rooms occupied by sick individuals, including bed linens, garbage receptacles, dishes, etc., should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected (if possible)
What’s the right way to disinfect germy surfaces in your home?
Here are four simple tips to make sure you’re using your disinfectants safely and effectively:
- Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning surfaces using soap and water can decrease the number of germs on surfaces, but it’s important to use a clean (ideally disposable) towel or cloth to prevent spreading germs between surfaces. Disinfecting surfaces with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved product can kill germs like the flu that may be living on surfaces, particularly those that are touched by many hands or if someone in the home is ill. (For more on this, read our blog "What’s the Difference Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting?")
- Choose a disinfectant that effectively kills the flu virus. Check the label to make sure you use an EPA-registered product that is proven to kill the flu (influenza A) virus.
- Follow the directions. Read the directions on how to use the disinfectant because different chemicals have different procedures on how many wipes are needed or how long to keep the surface wet to kill the flu virus — sometimes several minutes or even more! Also, some products require surfaces to be rinsed or wiped dry after disinfection, and some even require users to wash their hands after product use.
- Choose lower-toxicity products. No one wants to bring harsh chemicals into their home. Luckily,the EPA has a list of surface disinfectants that meet their “Safer Choice Standard": US EPA DfE-Certified Disinfectants
- Consider increasing surface disinfection frequency if respiratory viruses are spreading in your community or at work. If you have children or work in places where germs are more common, like schools, high-traffic environments, or healthcare settings, you know how likely it is that you’re bringing germs home with you. If there is a high level of infection in your community, you could also be bringing germs home from places like the grocery store, mall, or other businesses you frequent. When you get home, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds and consider daily disinfection of high-touch surfaces, particularly in the kitchen and dining area.
For flu prevention tips from the CDC, visit "Preventive Steps," or for RSV prevention tips, visit ”Preventing RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)."
Worry-Free and Effective Solution
PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant Spray contains ethanol as the active ingredient, does not contain harsh chemicals or fumes, and has earned the EPA's lowest allowable toxicity rating (Category IV), so it doesn’t require gloves, handwashing, or rinsing after use – even on food-contact surfaces. It kills many organisms in 30 seconds, including influenza A (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), and the germs that cause colds and stomach bugs. Available on Amazon
Read our other winter germ blog posts
This is the sixth and final post in a blog series from GOJO scientists and clinicians to help you and your business prepare for germs that will be circulating this winter. If you missed them, please read: