Stomach Flu Spread By Contaminated Computer Keyboards

Cybergal · Jan 3, 2008

Stomach Flu Spread By Contaminated Computer Keyboards

THURSDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- The highly contagious norovirus, often called the stomach flu, can be passed from one person to another through contact with commonly shared items such as computer keyboards and computer mice, U.S. health officials report.
The virus, which is common in winter and is the most frequent cause of outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhea in the United States, is often contracted in schools, at work and on cruise ships.

On Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on a norovirus outbreak at a Washington, D.C., elementary school last February in which some of the victims picked up the virus from contaminated computer equipment.

"There is evidence that shared objects and surfaces help transmit disease," said Dr. Shua Chai, a CDC epidemiologist and co-author of the report, published in the Jan. 4 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

"This is the first time that we have demonstrated that keyboards and computer mice can be a source of transmission of norovirus," he added.

Of the 314 students and 66 staffers at the D.C. school, 103 came down with the illness -- 79 students and 24 staff members. To find the sources of contamination, samples were taken from various surfaces around the school. In one first-grade classroom, a computer mouse and keyboard tested positive for norovirus, according to the report.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080103/hl_hsn/stomachfluspreadbycontaminatedcomputerkeyboards

Pur48Ted · Jan 4, 2008

MAN, it's a good thing I am a firm believer in SAFE CYBERING and using a full keyboard condom whenever I go out.

luvmyhubby · Jan 4, 2008

How much education does it take to know that shared items are a GREAT way to get sick? ESPECIALLY in a 1st grade classroom where most kids dont use tissues for a runny nose or wash their hands after using the bathroom???? DUH, kids are germy little sickness machines...LOL thats just a fact of life.

Havent these people seen the disinfectant wipes at the store, so that customers can wipe of the shopping cart before they use it, the hand sanitizer everyone carries?

Sounds to me like the educators need to invest in some clorox wipes and purell.....

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