Winter Germs and Infectious Disease

Illnesses of the Winter Season

Every year as the temperatures drop, so starts the season of compromised IAQ (indoor air quality). Americans will miss more work, school, and scheduled events than at any other time. They will spend money on vitamins and over-the-counter medicines and will ask their doctors for prescriptions to treat their symptoms. They will drink more water and hot tea than usual, and for some, it will be the only time of the year they consume broth or chicken soup.  Welcome, cold and flu season.

“Cold and flu season” is a catchall phrase meant to convey the period when people are most likely to contract a virus or bacterial infection. According to the CDC, the uptick in cases begins in October and runs through April. December through March are the peak months; February has more than three times as many cases as any other month.

Viruses include respiratory ailments such as the flu (influenza), Covid-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). Whooping cough (pertussis), strep throat, and pneumonia are examples of bacterial infections, though the latter two can also be viral.

The Role of IAQ in the Spread of Germs

The severity and longevity of winter illnesses are primarily driven by the convergence of two conditions: people being in close quarters while breathing dry indoor air.

This situation creates an IAQ rife with germs waiting to spread at a time when fresh outdoor air is limited.

Contagions need a means to travel. In winter, when air is cold and humidity is low, microbes can spread further and survive longer. The lack of moisture also causes our mucous membranes to dry out, making germ absorption more likely.

It doesn’t help that in colder months, our immunities are weaker. This means that the ability to expel germs from the respiratory tract is less effective than in warmer months.

Luckily, getting sick in winter isn’t a foregone conclusion.

How Indoor Air Cleaning Can Prevent Winter Illness

As no one thing will eradicate infectious disease, a layered approach to prevention should be employed.

The CDC recommends these steps to slow the rate of infection:

1. Wear a mask if you have a weakened immune system
2. Maintain good hygiene by washing hands regularly or using antibacterial gel
3. Drink hydrating fluids
4. Get vaccinated when possible
5. Use a humidifier

Business owners, landlords, and homeowners can go one step further. From the EPA:

Consider using portable air cleaners to supplement increased HVAC system ventilation and filtration, especially in areas where adequate ventilation is difficult to achieve. Directing the airflow so that it does not blow directly from one person to another reduces the potential spread of droplets that may contain infectious viruses.

Eliminating germs and microbes by filtering the air is a crucial step in combatting the transmission of communicable diseases. Begin with the installation of one of our germ-removing Extract-All® products such as:

S-987-UCA1: The Ultra Clean Air System is excellent at creating either positive or negative pressure environments in hospitals, schools, and commercial spaces and includes a HEPA filter that is 99.97% effective at removing contaminants down to 0.3 microns in size.

S-987-UCA2: The ULPA filter included with this system is 99.99% effective at removing contaminants down to 0.12 microns in size, including particulate matter and pathogens.

AMB1: With 7 stages of air purification, the Extract-All® AMB1 captures a wide range of airborne contaminants and releases clean air back into medium to large rooms, excellent for home or office.

To learn more about our air cleaning products, contact AIRSInc to set up a free consultation with one of our highly trained clean air specialists.