As the holiday season approaches, businesses are gearing up for a surge in foot traffic. ABCO Cleaning Products shared key tips to help facilities prepare for the influx of customers:

1. Use sustainable cleaning tools. With 65% of consumers preferring to buy from sustainable companies, adopting environmentally friendly practices is important. Consider using cleaning tools certified by a reputable third-party organization, like Green Seal®. This not only helps avoid greenwashing tactics but also demonstrates your commitment to sustainability.
2. Optimize waste reduction and recycling. More visitors mean more trash. Ensure waste and recycling bins are easily accessible and emptied regularly to prevent overflow. Implementing a waste management program can decrease your facility’s waste and carbon emissions, helping minimize your environmental impact. 
3. Increase cleaning frequency in high-traffic areas. During the holiday rush, high-traffic areas like entrances, restrooms, and common spaces face more wear and tear. Increase the cleaning frequency in these zones to help keep your facility consistently clean.
4. Maintain a stock of essential cleaning supplies. Plan for the busy season by stocking up on essential cleaning supplies. This helps ensure you’re well-prepared for quick clean-ups, keeping your facility ready for anything the holiday crowds bring.

“As you prepare for the holiday rush, prioritizing both cleanliness and sustainability is crucial,” said Carlos Albir Jr., ABCO Cleaning Products vice president of operations. “Adopting environmentally friendly cleaning practices helps create an environment that benefits both customers and the planet.”

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed the death of a middle-aged eastern Iowa resident from Lassa fever. Lassa fever is a viral disease common in West Africa, but rarely seen in the United States. The individual had recently returned from travel to West Africa, where it is believed the person contracted the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working to confirm the diagnosis of Lassa fever. Initial testing done at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory on Monday found the illness was presumptively positive for Lassa fever.

 “I want to assure Iowans that the risk of transmission is incredibly low in our state,” said Dr. Robert Kruse, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services medical director. “We continue to investigate and monitor this situation and are implementing the necessary public health protocols.”

Iowa HHS is working closely with the University of Iowa Health Care, where the individual was receiving care, the CDC, and local public health partners to identify anyone who may have been in close contact with the patient, out of an abundance of caution, for monitoring. The patient also was not sick while traveling so the risk to fellow airline passengers is extremely low.

Lassa fever is not spread through casual human contact like hugging, shaking hands or sitting near someone or through the air. Though very rare, the virus can be transmitted from human-to-human contact through blood or bodily fluids. Lassa fever is carried by rodents in West Africa and is transmitted to humans who may encounter urine or feces of the infected rodents. Early information suggests the Iowa patient may have had contact with rodents while in West Africa, the CDC reported. 

About 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever, and 5,000 deaths related to Lassa fever, occur in West Africa each year.

If confirmed, the Iowa suspected case would be the ninth known occurrence since 1969 of Lassa fever in travelers returning to the U.S. from areas where Lassa fever is commonly found.