With full-scale flu season about to begin (and on the heels of several professional athletes getting hit with swine flu) Mueller Sports Medicine announced Feb. 3, that it is donating 128 gallons worth of its swine flu-killing cleaner and disinfectant, Whizzer® to major U.S. professional sports teams, including the Baltimore Ravens sports team.
“It’s always a challenge to keep arenas clean and players healthy during flu season,” said company founder Curt Mueller. “Handling an H1N1 outbreak is particularly difficult for teams, since they have less scheduling flexibility than other organizations, fewer employees and have more physical contact between employees.”
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mueller’s Whizzer® disinfectant – which is currently registered for use against influenza A viruses on hard non-porous surfaces – will also be effective against the latest 2009 H1N1 flu strain. In addition, Whizzer® kills antibiotic-resistant MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), HIV-1, Hepatitis B and C and fungus germs on contact. The product is recommended for use on door knobs, walls, workout equipment, training tables and any hard surface that may come into contact with the bacteria.
“We realize that professional sports teams are in a uniquely difficult situation when it comes to fighting H1N1,” says Mueller. “We hope these donations help them to do that. We also hope they help publicize the need for all types of organizations to maintain proper hygiene, including the cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces.”
Mueller cautions that products like Whizzer® are only part of the battle against H1N1. The first line of defense, per guidelines from the Center for Disease Control, is the frequent washing of hands with soap and water. Hard surface disinfectant products like Whizzer® are not for use on skin.