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ebola disinfectionWith the Ebola virus being one of the top news stories for several weeks now, the need for information regarding everyday disinfection has grown exponentially. Whether it’s the hospitality industry, transportation, education or healthcare, the fears of this deadly virus are not unfounded as it’s made its way onto US soil.Regardless of the industry served, the same general disinfection guidelines apply, and we have gathered all of the latest information needed to keep yourself and your customers informed and protected against the Ebola virus.

General Guides to Disinfection 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have both released the same guidelines for disinfection of both hands and surfaces. A wealth of materials have been created with the purpose of informing the general public, and they make for great handouts and reference guides.

Click any of the links below to access these materials:

The full disinfection guidelines from WHO can be found by clicking here.
If you’d like to read the full, detailed guide from the CDC, click here.
For a brief, 2-page PDF that covers most commonly asked questions, this handout from the CDC covers the basics of Ebola prevention.
OSHA also released a very informative guide as it relates to Ebola and workplace safety. Read it here.

There are no surface disinfectants proven effective to kill Ebola HF, but the CDC recommends using an EPA-approved hospital-grade disinfectant with a label claim for a non-enveloped virus (e.g., Norovirus, Rotavirus, Adenovirus, Poliovirus) to disinfect environmental surfaces. There is a list of these products, as submitted by manufacturers, on the EPA website here.

Suggestions for Surface Disinfection

Any virucidal cleaner with an EPA registration for a non-enveloped virus should be effective against Ebola. Many sources recommend a simple dilution of sodium hypochlorite (bleach) for general disinfection — if using a 3.5% concentrated bleach, then a 6:1 ratio of water to bleach will achieve the desired .5% chlorine concentration suggested for maximum disinfection.

If bleach is not feasible for your situation, there are several other safer, more convenient, ready-to-use products that are also effective and easy to use. See below for additional product recommendations.

How Should Inanimate Surfaces be Disinfected?

“Data suggest that Ebola virus is relatively easy to disinfect and it does not seem to survive for more than about a day when dry on surfaces. However, every last viral particle must be killed because the infectious dose is very low. If a surface is known or suspected of contamination with Ebola virus, I recommend first using an absorbent material (preferably with an incorporated antimicrobial agent) to absorb any liquids that may be present like blood and urine.

CascadesABTowel-300x147

Cascades Antibacterial Towels PDF

The used absorbent material will be highly biohazardous, so it must be disposed of and handled properly. Then once “gross soil” has been removed, I recommend spraying the surface liberally with a virucidal disinfectant and then letting it stand for the entire contact time listed on the label, or at least five minutes.”

Which EPA-registered disinfectants are likely effective against Ebola?

Diversey EPA-Registered Disinfectants:

To view and download additional literature from Diversey, click here.

  • Windex® Multi-Surface Disinfectant #CB704336
  • Windex® Multi-Surface Disinfectant #CB701380
  • Windex® Touch-Up Multi-Surface Disinfectant – Fresh Scent #CB703520
  • Windex® Touch-Up Multi-Surface Disinfectant – Citrus Scent #CB703537

    Clorox EPA-Registered Disinfectants:

View and download the Clorox Professional Ebola Facts and Products Guide here.

  • Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Cleaner – 68970, 68967, 68978, 68832, 68973
  • Dispatch Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach – 69150, 69101, 69260, 69240
  • Clorox Healthcare Bleach Germicidal Wipes – 35309, 30358, 30359, 30577
  • Clorox Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner – 30649, 30651
  • Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant – 30828, 30829
  • Clorox Healthcare Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaner Disinfectant Wipes – 30824, 30825, 30826, 30827
  • Clorox Healthcare Citrace Hospital Disinfectant & Deodorizer – 49100
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Germicidal Bleach – 30966, 31009
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Tilex Soap Scum Remover & Disinfectant – 16930, 35604
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Disinfecting Wipes – 15948, 15949
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach – 00031
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Clean-Up Disinfectant Cleaner with Bleach – 35420, 35417
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Disinfecting Spray – 38504
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Cleaner – 30832, 30833
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide Disinfecting Wipes – 30830, 30831
  • Clorox Commercial Solutions Clorox 4-in-1 Disinfectant & Sanitizer – 31043
  • Clorox Pro Quaternary All-Purpose Disinfectant Cleaner1 – 30423

Reckitt-Benckiser EPA-Registered Disinfectants:

View and download additional product literature for Lysol Professional products here.

  • Professional LYSOL Brand III Disinfectant Spray – 04650, 04675, 74276, 74828, 76075, 84044
  • Professional LYSOL Brand Disinfectant Foam Cleaner – 02775
  • Professional LYSOL Disinfectant Basin Tub & Tile Cleaner – 04685
  • Professional LYSOL Brand Toilet Bowl Cleaner – 75055, 80088, 74278
  • LYSOL Brand IC Disinfectant Spray – 95029, 83716
  • LYSOL Brand IC Foaming Disinfectant Cleaner – 95524
  • Professional LYSOL Brand Disinfectant Heavy Duty Bathroom Cleaner Concentrate – 94201
  • Professional LYSOL Brand Antibacterial All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate – 74392
  • Professional LYSOL Brand No Rinse Sanitizer Concentrate – 74389

Proper Hand Cleaning for Disinfection 

Proper handwashing and sanitizing techniques are the best defense against contracting any virus. Our hands encounter many surfaces throughout the course of a day, and since you cannot guarantee that every surface has been disinfected, clean hands are your last lines of defense. The CDC guidelines for handwashing and sanitizing are as follows:

How should you wash your hands?

  • Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
  • Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Be sure to lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
  • Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
  • Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
  • Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.

How do you use hand sanitizers?

  • Apply the product to the palm of one hand (read the label to learn the correct amount).
  • Rub your hands together.
  • Rub the product over all surfaces of your hands and fingers until your hands are dry.

Products for Effective Hand Hygiene

Dial released a very informative fact sheet regarding antibacterial soaps that you can view and download here. View additional Dial literature here.


Clorox isn’t just for surfaces! Download the sell sheet for Clorox Professional Hand Sanitizer here.

Purell Hand Sanitizing Products:

To view and download literature for all of GOJO’s hand care products, click here.

  • 3659-12 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer 12 fl oz Pump Bottle
  • 9652-12 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer 8 fl oz Pump Bottle
  • 9651-24 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer 4 fl oz Flip Top Bottle
  • 9605-24 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer 2 fl oz Flip Top Bottle
  • 3639-12 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer w/ Aloe 12 fl oz Pump Bottle
  • 9674-12 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer w/ Aloe 8 fl oz Pump Bottle
  • 9631-24 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer w/ Aloe 4 fl oz Flip Top Bottle
  • 9682-24 PURELL Advanced Instant Hand Sanitizer w/ Aloe 2 fl oz Flip Top Bottle

AdvantageAdvantage Skin Care Products:

To view and download sell sheets and brochures for all Advantage Skin Care products, including TidySan Foam Hand Sanitizer and TidyBac Foam antibacterial soap, click here.

Additional resources:

For more information and up-to-the-minute news regarding Ebola, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola.

To view the official MSDS sheet for the Ebola virus, click here.

To download RJ Schinner’s two-page overview of Ebola with handwashing tips, Ebola facts, and a product guide to effective Lysol and Clorox products, click here.

To read the Global Hygiene Council’s statement on telling the difference between Ebola and Influenza, click here.


BY  and RJ Schinner
© Copyright 2014 Amy Ullsperger, All rights Reserved 

About Amy Ullsperger

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