According to Remedy Magazines summer 2008 issue, that’s exactly what they are calling a “nasty norovirus that causes the stomach flu…” And this is not a hoax!
The catch is that the virus is actually spread through computer mice and keyboards in schools, offices, and at home - not by e-mail! (I would also include libraries in that list!)
According to their recommendations, you should disinfect keyboards and mice regularly with diluted bleach solutions and wash your hands often.
Now, the MICE™ word of caution here. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT ever put water or wet solutions directly onto a keyboard or mouse!
Although we teach how to clean REAL viruses in our courses, to clean keyboards and mice, follow these simple steps:
- Always, always, always, clean these parts with the computer OFF!
- After the PC shuts down completely, disconnect the device by pulling out the plug from the back of the unit.
- When cleaning a mouse, flip the mouse over and remove the mouse roller ball from inside its compartment. (There should be a twist off cover.)
- Clean the mouse roller ball with a lint free cloth dipped in alcohol. Yes, rubbing alcohol!
- Carefully examine any turning parts like gears or rolling bars inside the ball compartment. Rub or carefully scratch off - lightly with your finger nail - any trapped fuzz or dirt that has collected on the rollers.
- Use canned air or duster product to blow out the mouse chamber.
- Replace the ball and close the compartment.
- On the upper surface of the mouse, use another lint free cloth sprayed with a multi-purpose surface cleaning product containing bleach. I use my Clorox Disinfecting Kitchen Cleaner that I use on our kitchen counters. Note that I said the cloth is sprayed and not the mouse! It only takes a little liquid on the cloth - don’t soak it! Wipe down the outside of the mouse with the cloth and allow to dry for a few minutes before reconnecting to the computer.
To clean the keyboard, follow steps 1 and 2 above and then:
- Tilt the keyboard upside down and tap lightly to dislodge any crumbs of dust that may be stuck between the keys or have fallen through the gap between them. You can also give it a shake to make sure everything is dislodged.
- While holding the keyboard by one side so that it’s suspended on an angle (not lying flat), use canned air or a duster product for electronics and blow out the keyboard thoroughly. By having the keyboard hanging from your hand to do this, any particles blown out by the dust will fall to the ground and not back into the keyboard.
- To remove any fingerprints or small coffee spills (if you’re like me!), use a product like 409 or Fantastic sprayed lightly onto a lint free cloth to rub off the affected keys.
- To disinfect, use a lint free cloth sprayed (or dipped) with a disinfecting multi-purpose product with bleach - as in the mouse cleaning directions above.
- Allow to dry for a few minutes before reassembling.
So now you know how to stop the spread of this new, nasty, computer norovirus! Now this is one virus alert you can send through the e-mail and it’s not a hoax! Just point them to our blog!
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