In 2006, the world prepared for a possible pandemic. A system of migrating birds allowed the spread of a specific microbe—H5N1, or the Avian Influenza Virus—to move from Asia to Africa and Europe. Fortunately, the disease did not become airborne or spread to vast...

When you’re cleaning and disinfecting your home, are you fully aware of what might be there in the first place? It’s time to dig deep to make sure that you’re aware of the microscopic intruders that could be threatening your health and safety. Let’s discuss a specific...

Staphylococcus aureus is an extremely dangerous yet common type of bacteria. They are gram-positive, which means that they have thick cell walls. Shaped like spheres, they can cause anything from frustrating and irritating skin conditions to pneumonia, heart value...

Diarrhea. Infections. Even typhoid fever — the downstream effects of gram-negative Salmonella enterica bacteria range from frustrating to life-threatening. Now is an excellent time to put preventative measures in place to help you and your loved ones avoid any...

Think about your countertops. Really think about them: What touches them? How often do you clean them and what are the places you touch right after you place a casual hand on your countertop? (The Venn diagram of surface contact is probably larger than you think,...

Your hands, countertops and common surfaces could all be rife with bacteria at any point in time. Not exactly a comforting thought, is it? However, for our health and safety and of those we love, it’s important we stay informed about what’s out there. Only by doing so...

Your countertops and sinks are common touchpoints that come into contact with your hands, food and everything else in your kitchen. If these surfaces are rife with bacteria or other contaminants, that’s going to be a problem. One contaminated surface in your kitchen...

Changing tables tend to feature a lot of disposable or washable accessories. We keep wipes near the changing station to keep our children comfortable and clean; we layer on changing pads with removable covers; we have a fresh stack of diapers at hand. If we’re...

Your child’s highchair sees a lot of action. There are the early days when formula and fruit purees rarely survive the spoon-to-mouth journey. Later, baby-led weaning may render your entire dining room a combat zone. To make sure that your child’s food remains a...

Did you know that the average person touches their phone upwards of 2,500 times a day? This might not seem like a particularly worrying statistic. However, when you pair that concept with the fact that our phones are distressingly dirty and we tend to touch our faces...

For most of us, our immune system exists as a first-level wall of defense against any environmental pathogens that could make us very sick. This complex system consists of many different organs, proteins and cells throughout our bodies that work together in a smart,...

In an emerging post-pandemic world, people are beginning to return to work at their communal offices. As a result, employers and employees alike are examining their surrounding surfaces and common touchpoints with a level of skepticism and scrutiny that did not exist...

When we think of spring-cleaning benefits, we often think of fresher spaces, fewer dust bunnies and a long decluttering stint that renders our home spotless (for a few months). However, one of the best benefits may be a completely invisible one. Food-borne illnesses...

Spring cleaning fun fact: One of the reasons spring cleaning is a time-tested tradition lies in simple biology. The lack of sunlight that accompanies the onset of winter triggers our bodies to produce more melatonin, a hormone associated with sleepiness. Come spring...