Almost two decades ago, the measles was nearly eliminated in the United States. But so far this year, from January 1 to April 19, the Centers for Disease Control has confirmed 626 individual cases of measles in 22 states. It appears the surge has been fueled in part by the anti-vaccination movement, particularly among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish Communities in New York and New Jersey. According to the CDC, most cases are linked to travelers who brought measles back from countries such as Israel, Ukraine, and the Philippines.

Measles begins with a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads all over the body. It’s highly contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing. Measles can live up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughed or sneezed. If people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, they can become infected when they touch their eyes, nose or mouth. Infected people can spread measles from four days before to four days after the rash appears.

The Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective in preventing measles, but as a business owner, you don’t always know who has been vaccinated. To protect yourself and your employees from an outbreak of measles, it’s essential to take proactive measures by disinfecting, sanitizing, and protecting your work environment.

As a first step, it’s critical to educate your employees about hand hygiene. Since hands are the most common source of spreading pathogens, hand hygiene makes a big difference. Soap and hand sanitizer can eliminate viruses and bacteria. Enviro-Master will provide the product, the equipment, and the service to ensure your facility is protected.

Sani-Guard, Enviro-Master’s unique electrostatic spraying service, addresses dangerous disease-causing pathogens. As part of our weekly service, Enviro-Master’s certified Health and Safety Technicians use an electrostatic sprayer to diffuse a germicide on all surfaces. Sani-Guard can be used anywhere germs might be lurking such as restrooms, offices, gyms, and daycares, etc. Unlike other harsh chemicals, our product is food safe and can be applied to all surfaces.

Don’t let an outbreak of measles affect your business or your brand. Call Enviro-Master today to benefit from our hand hygiene program and electrostatic spraying!