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Noro Solution at QuickMedical

From YAHOO Health: "Health authorities in New Zealand said Monday that about 200 passengers on a cruise ship have been sickened by an outbreak of norovirus.

The passengers were among more than 1,500 aboard the Dawn Princess, which was due to leave for Australia Monday as it completes a 13-day voyage. The ship is operated by Princess Cruises, a division of Miami-based Carnival Corp.

Dr. Alistair Humphrey, the medical officer of health for Canterbury, said health officials conducted tests which confirmed the illness is norovirus. He said the outbreak now appears to be waning.

The gastrointestinal illness typically lasts one to three days and can cause stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

Princess Cruises said in a statement that affected passengers were isolated in their cabins until they were considered no longer contagious and that crew members had disinfected surfaces like railings, door handles and elevator buttons. Crew members had also encouraged passengers to wash their hands correctly and use sanitizing gels, the cruise operator said."

The best way to protect your facility against noroviruses are touchless Germstar Noro Solution dispensers.

GermStar's Noro solution was designed specifically for the cruise line industry where the highly contagious norovirus is easily spread. GermStar's Noro Solution is formulated from 63% ethyl alcohol as well as proprietary ingredients which maximize effectiveness against norovirus.

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How to Clean Up After Norovirus

From the Cleveland Clinic

Recently over 600 passengers on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas, fell ill and the cruise ship was forced to cut its trip short and return to Cape Liberty, New Jersey ahead of schedule. Explorer of the Seas can accommodate over 3,000 guests and includes a built-in atmospheric and oceanographic lab. CDC spokesperson, Bernadette Burden said the ship was carrying 3,050 passengers and a crew of 1,165 at the time of the outbreak. The ship departed Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, New Jersey, on January 21 and cut its planned 10-day cruise short by two days...

1. Use bleach and water

You can catch norovirus from contaminated surfaces, and many disinfectants won’t kill it. Use bleach water. The CDC recommends a solution that contains anywhere from 5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water. Stainless steel and similar surfaces need less, while more porous surfaces need more. If you don’t want to mix your own, shop for bleach-based cleaners.

2. Clean safely

Use rubber gloves or disposable latex or vinyl gloves. This will help protect you not only from the bleach but also from the norovirus itself, which can hang around on surfaces for several days. Wear a protective mask for safety — and be sure to air out the room when you finish cleaning.

3. Clean everything you touch    

That includes the toilet, the floor, all counters, doorknobs, light switches, telephones, remote controls — you name it. For the best results, let the bleach water or cleaner sit on the surface for about 10 minutes before wiping it clean with paper towels or other disposable products. In addition, you may want to steam clean upholstered furniture.

4. Separate your laundry

Use gloves to handle soiled sheets, towels and clothes, and keep them separate from other laundry if possible. Wash everything in very hot water. For whites or light clothing you aren’t concerned about lightening, add a little bleach. Wash the items with detergent at the maximum available cycle length, then machine dry them.

5. Wash your hands — then wash them again

Washing your hands is a good practice both during and after any illness, particularly a hearty one like norovirus. Be sure to wash hands thoroughly after cleaning, too, so all your hard work doesn’t go to waste.

How Does Hand Sanitizer Help Cruise Ships?

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The Best Prices on Hand Sanitizer Refills

If you're using a Germstar hand sanitizer dispenser at your facility, you're already aware of the dispenser's ease of use and effectiveness. But, did you know that original, citrus, and Noro solution refills are all priced at QuickMedical below retail at $131.67 for a case of 6 refills? This means the price of each use is actually less than a penny. Invest in peace of mind from illness with a Germstar hand sanitizer. QuickMedical has the best prices online for your hand sanitizer refills.

As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. In turn, you can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Although it's impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently or using hand sanitizer can help limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Now Germstar offers a new smaller version of their popular dispenser. The Germstar G2 has a 12 oz capacity compared to the larger 32 oz dispenser and has unique features including a night light. To read more about purchasing a kit or single Germstar G2, click read more.

GermStar G2 Touchless Hand Soap Dispenser Kits offer all of the quality features of the original GermStar Stations, but in a compact 12 ounce size. The night light on the Globe has three settings including on, off, and light sensitive for ease of use. Refills are easily done with the refill function. Refills for the G2 are available for easy continued use. Protect yourself from disease with Germstar.