Blog / Prevent The Spread Of The H1N1 Virus

Ways To Prevent The Spread Of The H1N1 Virus

News of the H1N1 flu or Swine Flu has been broadcast all over the world the last several months.  The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) states that this is a new virus and most people will not have immunity to it.  The CDC expects the illness to be more severe and widespread than other flu’s in the past.  At this time there is no vaccine to protect against this H1N1 virus and experts are predicting that this upcoming flu season will see many more cases of this flu.  

The H1N1 virus, plus other respiratory infections like the flu (all types) are highly contagious airborne diseases that spread through contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person (a cough or a sneeze).  Studies have shown, due to the fact that this virus travels airborne, it is possible for a HVAC (heating and cooling) system to become a mode of viral transmission.  Droplets from a sneeze or cough evaporate into the air and then can be spread through your air-handling system.  There are things each individual can do to help prevent the spread of germs as well as ways that the HVAC industry can help keep your home germ-free.

Below are some ways you can help protect you and your family from the spread of this H1N1 flu.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also very effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.  Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you are sick.  By staying home you can limit the contact with others and keep from infecting them.
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing and sneezing of infected people.
• Follow public advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Have an air purification or filtration system installed in your home.  A whole-home air filtration system attaches to your central heating and cooling system.  One such system is the Trane CleanEffect™ system, which will remove more than 99 percent of the influenza A (including H1N1) from a home’s filtered air.  It also leaves your indoor air filtered and cleaned of up to 99.98% of airborne allergens that pass through the filters. 
• Place UV Germicidal Lamps on the coils of your HVAC system.  Germicidal light is a safe, non-chemical way to disinfect.  This UV light actually neutralizes flue viruses, along with other viruses, bacteria and pathogens (fungi, molds, etc.).  This UV lamp will also prevent the accumulation of mold and mildew, which left unattended, will make your system work harder, longer and less efficient, resulting in untimely repairs.
• Install a whole-house air cleaner.  As the system runs, the air in your home is filtered through a filter that removes potentially harmful contaminants, such as disease-causing bacteria and viruses, pollen, lung-damaging dust, pet hair dander, dust mites, tobacco smoke, spores, from every room of your home.  An air cleaner like the, Aprilaire Whole House Cleaner, will prevent the build-up of dust and dirt which leads to expensive maintenance and premature failure of your heating and cooling system.

For more information, contact the CDC, www.cdc.gov or www.coolray.com