Jan/San’s Role Relative To Flu Fears

Will the headline-grabbing avian flu (H5N1) ever become a pandemic? It’s impossible to predict, but a similar outbreak in 1918, dubbed the “Spanish Flu,” killed as many as 50 million people worldwide. It, too, is thought to have originated in birds before jumping to humans.

Experts are paying close attention to avian-flu outbreaks in Asia. According to the Centers for Disease Control: “Experts from around the world are watching the H5N1 situation in Asia very closely and are preparing for the possibility that the virus may begin to spread more easily and widely from person to person.”

According to a recent study commissioned by Kimberly Clark, more than half of respondents said they were concerned about the possibility of a flu strain jumping from animals to humans. Whether or not the bird flu will become a real threat remains to be seen, but jan/san distributors have the opportunity to capitalize on heightened awareness to promote proper cleaning and hygiene while reiterating cleaning’s link to disease prevention.

So, gather as much knowledge as possible about the transmission and prevention of the flu — avian flu included. The healthcare market segment is one where the threat of cross contamination is always top of mind. Read about health care’s precautionary strategies — and what others might learn from them — in “Prescription For Clean.”

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ISSA/INTERCLEAN® drew record crowds to Las Vegas in October. Check out photos of some of the show highlights in SM’s Photo Gallery, “Winning Big In Las Vegas.”