September is National Food Safety Month!

This year’s theme for National Food Safety Month is “Notorious Virus”! Join us as we explore how to protect yourself, family and friends from some of the leading causes of foodborne illness – Norovirus and Hepatitis A!

People can get viruses from food, water, or any contaminated surface. Foodborne illnesses from viruses typically occur through fecal-oral routes. Such is the case with Norovirus, one of the leading causes of foodborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 20 million people get sick each year with Norovirus.

It is very contagious and only a small amount of the virus is needed to make someone sick. Norovirus is frequently transmitted through airborne vomit particles.

Hepatitis A is another leading cause of foodborne illness. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). The virus is found in the stool (feces) of people with HAV infection. It enters the body through the mouth after someone handles something contaminated with HAV, or eats or drinks something contaminated with HAV.

People usually get hepatitis A by having close contact with a person who is infected, from food or drinks prepared by someone who is infected, or by eating shellfish harvested from sewage-contaminated water.

In the USA, hepatitis A infections have declined by 90% since the hepatitis A vaccine first became available in 1995. However, it is still a public health concern and everyone should take precautions to prevent the spread of Hepatitis A and Norovirus:

Wash, Wash, WASH YOUR HANDS!

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick with norovirus or Hepatitis A is to follow public health guidelines when washing hands. This is especially important after using the restroom.

• WET YOUR HANDS AND ARMS
• APPLY SOAP 
• SCRUB HANDS AND ARMS FOR 10 TO 15 SECONDS 
• RINSE HANDS AND ARMS 
• DRY HANDS AND ARMS 

Clean, Clean CLEAN and sanitize food-contact surfaces.

Healthy Holiday Season: Wash your Hands & Stay Home if You Are Sick!

Wash, Wash, Wash and Wash again! December 6-12, 2015 is National Handwashing Awareness Week. It’s the time of year for parties, get-togethers and holiday celebrations. It’s also flu season, and a common time for the spread of disease and illness. The Colorado cold keeps our windows and doors closed, creating an atmosphere for germs to collect and hide. Here is a cheat sheet on the 7 Germiest Places and Things to clean before the holidays.

Following basic public health practices during the holidays, such as washing your hands, can effectively stop the spread of germs and many diseases.

When should you wash your hands?

• Before, during, and after preparing food;
• Before eating food;
• Before and after caring for someone who is sick;
• Before and after treating a cut or wound;
• After using the toilet;
• After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has used the toilet;
• After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing;
• After touching an animal, animal feed, or animal waste; and, 
• After touching garbage.

What is the right way to wash your hands?

• Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
• Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the "Happy Birthday" song from beginning to end twice.
• Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
• Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

Resources:

Stay Home if You’re Sick (poster); Wash Your Hands (brochure); JCPH Flu shots (web page) Stop the spread of germs (web page). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also offers an excellent Feature on Handwashing, or visit the CDC Handwashing: Clean Hands Save Lives page.