Infectious diseases can be spread just about every which way you can think of. From the raw chicken on your cutting board to your son that just sneezed all over your dinner, infectious diseases are all around us. Most diseases are caused through direct contact. This is when you come in contact with a co-worker, friend, relative, or anyone that is sick. Person-to-person contact is the normal way to get a disease. The germs from one person are directly transferred to another when they cough in their hand and then touch a doorknob or if they kiss the cheek of this person. Ever shared an office with someone that keeps sneezing and coughing? This person is spreading their disease through the air. Little droplets of saliva and being tossed into the air and placed into your lungs and this will cause you to contract the virus. You can also get the infectious disease by sexual encounters with a person that is sick or through a blood transfusion.
Animals can also transmit infectious diseases. Animals carry several germs. They can spend time outside and track in feces and other things from the ground. If they were bitten by an insect or another animal, they can carry harmful infectious diseases. Being scratched or bitten by an animal can cause you to become ill. Handling animal waste can also cause you to get sick. Cat feces contain harmful bacteria which can get you extremely sick. If you have a cat, you may want to consider toilet-training it or purchasing a self-cleaning littler box.
Pregnant mothers can easily pass infectious diseases to their unborn children. The germs that the mother comes in contact with can easily pass through the placenta and cause the fetus to be exposed to them. Pregnant women should not handle animal feces, especially cat litter because it can cause you to contract toxoplasmosis.
It is important to sterilize your home and your office often. Diseases and bacteria can remain on inanimate objects for several days. If you cut chicken on your cutting board and wipe it off, the bacteria are still on the cutting board. In order to kill the bacteria, you need to use proper disinfectant.
People in the office that are infected with the flu or a head cold can easily touch doorknobs and leave the bacteria on the handle. What about the faucet handles in the bathroom? If you use a public restroom, take some antibacterial hand wipes with you and wipe down everything you plan to touch, especially the toilet handle, faucet handle, and doorknob. If you touch the surface that an ill person touched and then you touch your mouth, eyes, or nose, your chances of getting infected will increase.
If you are sick, stay home from work and don’t expose your co-workers to your illness. Have everyone living in your home take more vitamin C to prevent them from getting the head cold. Make sure you disinfect everything you touch and try to stay away from everyone when you are sick so you do not increase their chances of contracting the virus.
Employers can reduce the spread of infectious diseases by requiring their employees to get vaccinated and stay up-to-date with their immunizations. Encourage your sick employees to stay home until they get better. Always encourage your employees to wash their hands several times a day. Place antibacterial wipes in the common areas of the office so employees can wash these areas before they touch them. Make sure employees clean their desks often. The desk is a breeding ground for bacteria and employees don’t clean them on a daily or weekly basis. Always make sure they wipe down their keyboard, mouse, and telephone.