Bacteria, Viruses on Desk Tops, Keyboards, Mouses

[From article]
Millions of us spend our days slaving over a keyboard. But lurking between the keys, hidden on the mouse and nestled in your phone lies more than 10 million bacteria - 400 times more than on the average toilet seat.
Unhygienic working conditions are a 'key contributor' to the 131 million working days lost each year in the UK and millions more around the world, to illnesses including colds and flu.
Bacteria and viruses can multiply on hard surfaces, remaining infectious for up to 24 hours, hygiene expert and visiting professor at the University of Salford, Dr Lisa Ackerley told MailOnline.
She said the average desk is a prime breeding ground for infections, before urging people to disinfect their desks, telephones, keyboards and computer mice.
She added that better cleaning and hygiene measures could result in 'significantly fewer sick days'.
Now, a new infographic lays bare the stark reality of how important it is to detox your desk.
It shows one in five workers fail to clean their workspace before eating, while two in three eat lunch at their desk.
Twenty per cent of people never clean their computer mouse, while around 80 per cent of common infections are transmitted by touch.
[. . .]
She said a recent survey found nearly 50 per cent of office workers don't wash their hands after going to the toilet.
'There is no excuse,' she said. 'Those people bypassing the sink are spreading germs all around the office.
'Their refusal to wash their hands means someone else is likely to pick up that bacteria, and risk passing it into their bodies when touching their eyes, mouths or faces.
'Cleaning in offices should really focus on any surfaces that come into contact with anyone's hands. It is important to mop the floors, but really it is desks, sinks, handles, anywhere we put our hands - they are the surfaces that are likely to be really dirty.
[. . .]
'Employees should wash their hands when arriving at work, particularly if they have been on public transport.
'Office equipment such as telephone handsets, computer keyboards and desks, which are hotspots for viruses and bacteria, and other hard surfaces in regular contact with hands should be cleaned and disinfected regularly using anti-viral and anti-bacterial products such as Dettol Disinfectant Spray which will help to reduce the risk of picking up colds and flu.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2859334/Why-s-time-detox-desk-Average-worker-comes-contact-10-MILLION-disease-causing-bacteria-lurking-keyboard-phone-mouse.html

Why it's time to detox your desk: Average worker comes into contact with more than 10 MILLION disease-causing bacteria lurking on their keyboard, phone and mouse
More than 10 million bacteria lurk on the average office desk with 7,500 organisms hidden in your keyboard
Unhygienic working conditions are a 'key contributor' to millions of working days lost to sickness each year
Hygiene expert Dr Lisa Ackerley said bacteria and viruses can survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours
Says our hands are a germ motorway; many surfaces they come into contact with can breed bacteria and viruses
By LIZZIE PARRY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 10:01 EST, 5 December 2014 | UPDATED: 10:33 EST, 5 December 2014