Influenza H1N1 (09) Human Swine Influenza: Cleaning your home if you're sick or in quarantine
Last Updated: 08 May 2009
A new influenza virus that spreads between people has recently been identified. This influenza is called swine influenza, because it is derived from an influenza virus that normally infects pigs. If you are asked to go into home isolation or quarantine, you will need to pay careful attention to cleaning your home.
How is human swine influenza spread?
Human swine influenza is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through infected people coughing or sneezing. Particles from coughs and sneezes can remain infectious on people's hands and on the various household surfaces.
What is home quarantine?
Quarantine means separating people who are not showing signs of human swine influenza but have possibly been exposed to swine flu from other people in the general community or at home.
What is home isolation?
Isolation means separating people with symptoms of human swine flu from other people in the general community by isolating them in their home. You may go outside in your garden but must stay one metre away from your boundary.
How should you clean around the home?
Commonly touched surfaces
• Commonly touched surfaces include taps, doorknobs, tables, kettle handles and fridge door handles should be cleaned frequently with normal household detergents then wipe with 70% Alcohol. Allow to dry completely.
• Wear household gloves during cleaning.
• Warning -use of 70% Alcohol: Alcohol -based cleaners are flammable and toxic. Only use in well ventilated areas and avoid breathing in the fumes. Keep alcohol - based cleaners away from heat sources, electrical equipment, flames, and hot surfaces.
Cleaning the room of a person in isolation or quarantine
• If possible the person in isolation or quarantine should sleep and stay in a separate room to other members of the household.
• Wear household gloves and a surgical mask during cleaning.
• Clean as usual. For example:-
Wood surfaces - clean with a neutral detergent. (eg. Chair, tray)
Metal surfaces - clean with a neutral detergent and then wipe with 70%Alcohol
• Warning - use of 70% Alcohol: Alcohol -based cleaners are flammable and toxic. Only use in well ventilated areas and avoid breathing in the fumes. Keep alcohol - based cleaners away from heat sources, electrical equipment, flames, and hot surfaces.
Cleaning the bathroom used by the person in isolation or quarantine
• Clean the bathroom and toilet daily, if possible.
• Wear household gloves and a surgical mask during cleaning.
• Clean with a neutral detergent and wipe common area surfaces with 70% Alcohol.
• Warning - use of 70% Alcohol: Alcohol -based cleaners are flammable and toxic. Only use in well ventilated areas and avoid breathing in the fumes. Keep alcohol - based cleaners away from heat sources, electrical equipment, flames, and hot surfaces.
Clean the remaining areas of the house as usual
What should I do with my household waste?
• Gloves, tissues and other waste generated in the care of a person in isolation or quarantine should be bagged and placed in another container for disposal with other household waste.
• Dispose of all household waste and recycling as usual.
What else should be done?
• Crockery and other eating utensils
The person in isolation or quarantine should not share crockery or utensils with other members of the household.
Their used dishes and eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap. Household gloves should be worn by other members of the household when touching used cups and other eating utensils.
After crockery and utensils have been washed, they may be used by others.
• Laundry - Towels, bedding and clothing
Towels, bedding and clothing should not be shared. These may be washed in a standard washing machine with warm water and detergent. Care should be taken when handling soiled laundry to avoid direct contact of skin or clothing with contaminated material. Household gloves should be worn by other members of the household when touching towels, bedding and clothing.
Soiled laundry should not be shaken. This will help to avoid spreading germs.
After laundry has been washed it may be used by others.
Where can I get help or further information?
• If you have questions about your health or being in isolation and quarantine call the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing swine influenza information 1802007
• Call 000 in an Emergency
NSW Health swine flu information: /swineflu/index.asp