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Swine Flu and Influenza Updated August 3rd, 2009
The headlines concerning infections caused by the Swine Flu virus are rampant, so it is important to understand what the Swine Flu virus is and how flu infections are transmitted.

Swine Influenza is a respiratory disease caused by type A influenza virus. This virus causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs; however, humans too can be infected with the Swine flu virus. The Swine flu virus is spread the same way that seasonal flu occurs, primarily by, person-to-person via coughing and or sneezing of those infected with the influenza virus. People may also become infected by touching a surface with flu viruses on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

The Swine flu virus is from the family of Orthomyxovirus that are inclusive of all the influenza viruses. These viruses are called "enveloped" in terms of their structure. Fortunately, they are the easiest ones to kill with chemical disinfection. Quaternary based products are more then capable of efficacy against these.

It is wise to implement a good, thorough environmental cleaning strategy. Frequent cleaning of high touch hard surfaces with a good detergent or an EPA registered disinfectant is ideal for this. Meticulous cleaning procedures are important. Cleaning actually aids in the physical removal of the virus from the surface. This is more important than the disinfection or deactivation of the virus. Special attention should be given to high touch environmental surfaces such as bathtubs, sink fixtures, light fixtures, phones, and hand rails to just name a few.

For disinfecting, Spartan's EPA registered HDQ Neutral series of products are ideal as are several others. These products have label claims for Influenza A virus ATCC VR-544, along with many other organisms of concern such as; MRSA, Herpes simplex type 1 and type 2, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The HDQ products are also suitable for use with the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard. To insure proper disinfection, all label directions and dilution rates should be followed.

Remember, the bottom line is that in terms of control and disinfection, this virus is no different then the flu we normally deal with. Hand washing and cleaning is everything. Transmission is direct human to human contact via airborne viruses from coughing or sneezing and by touching a surface contaminated with the flu virus.

Spartan’s products that are effective against Influenza A virus include:
CDC-10®
Clean on the Go hdqC®2
Clean on the Go NABC® Concentrate
Clean on the Go Super HDQ®L10
DMQ®
Foamy Q & A®
Green Solutions® Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner
Green Solutions® High Dilution Disinfectant 256
Hepacide Quat® II
HDQ Neutral®
NABC®
Sani-T-10®
Sparquat 256
Steriphene II® Brand Disinfectant Deodorant
Super HDQ Neutral®
TB-Cide Plus® II
TB-Cide Quat®
TnT®