MANKATO, Minn. -
Many local businesses are also on high alert to make sure theflu doesn't take out their workforce or customers.
Kids at Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry usually haveplenty to keep them occupied while they wait.
Practice administrator Jason Dudley says, "Large teddybears, stuffed animals, and other types of fun little toys and what not, soit's a little bit of a playroom."
But the flu outbreak went and ruined all of the fun.
Dudley says, "We had to take our toys back."
Since the flu came around they are using more hand sanitizerand regularly sterilizing more than just the dental equipment.
Dudley says, "Door handles and things like that, entryways. It's very spread able and can spread not only to other kids, it canspread to staff and doctors as well."
A crew from Vanderberg Cleaning comes to the office at nightto do a deeper clean; they have also stepped up their efforts.
Owner Josh Vanderberg says, "This time of year we dochange our solutions, we change from peroxide to a medical grade disinfectant,the disinfectant just has that extra kick that allows us to fight thedisease."
Crews pay extra attention to places people touch a lot, likephones, keyboards, and door handles.
Vanderberg says, "This whole area around here is reallywhat is infected."
Vanderberg says, like at the dentist's office, cleaningshouldn't stop with his crews.
Vanderberg says, "It is really important to continuouslyclean throughout the day, because once a surface is touched its re invitinggerms back into the area."
Like at KEYC, throughout the day in addition to writing ourstories, or making phone calls, this flu season we are also encourage to makecleaning our workspace part of our daily routine.
It might be a little more work, or like at the dentist, youcould disappoint some kids. But for businesses, they would rather prevent theflu, then fight.
Vanderberg says, "Once it's there we really are battlingit, but if we can prevent that through proper cleaning and hand washing that isimportant."
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