The perfect flu and cold zone
Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Feb 14/01) - A co-worker releases a wet sneeze, swallows the fallout and resumes talking on the phone.
It's just a sneeze and just a phone, but in the communal office world "shared" is synonymous with sick.
"My advice is clean your phones daily and wipe down surfaces and keyboards," said Dan O'Neill, owner of Sundance Health.
The healthy living specialist said workplaces are rapidly becoming known as germ-harbouring havens.
Health Canada says the cold and flu season will extend itself by two months this year thanks to an early start in October.
Given an estimated 80 per cent of common chest colds, sore throats and stomach flues are transmitted by touching, not through the air, our immune systems are in dire and repeated risk of infection. Bacteria is big business.
Look no further than the rainbow of antibacterial sprays and jelly Germ Blasters hitting the store shelves.
Four germ-conscious people contacted by Yellowknifer spoke on the condition of anonymity.
All four admit to opening doors with sleeves and tissues, of disinfecting phones and keyboards, of driving company cars with gloves. Clearly, a runny-nosed co-worker innocently reaching for your stapler is more than an absent gesture.
"At least we're not in those canned offices, the ones with recirculated air and no open windows," said a receptionist. Her counter and telephone headset are dusted daily, sometimes hourly, with shots of antibacterial spray.
"People come to my desk and touch my things and I just think 'ick,'" she said. Some call it bacillophobia, fear of microbes. Scissors, pens and coffee mugs are obvious offenders. Less obvious but equally germ-ridden objects are elevator buttons, washroom taps and door handles.
But buried beneath the empty tissue boxes, common sense prevails. Don't be surprised if you see a glare or hear someone scream "wash your hands" after a thunderous sneeze or barking cough.
