Norovirus (Norwalk Virus) causes outbreaks of sickness and diarrhoea and it is often responsible for the closure of hotel and leisure facilities, hospital wards and even causes cruise liners to return to port prematurely. When an outbreak strikes it spreads rapidly and it can soon affect large numbers of people.

Due to the nature of the virus and its easy transmission and introduction it is also difficult to know exactly where the source of infection comes from.

During a recent outbreak at the Grand Hotel in Scarborough, from the initial outbreak there were 60 guests infected within a short time. The Grand, part of the Britannia Hotels group, took prompt action and called in infection control specialists Anubis Healthcare Ltd.

Anubis attacked the outbreak from 4 different angles:
1. Immediate implementation of training and a specific infection control procedure.
2. The placement and use of specific proven products, tested and evaluated by the UK Health Protection Agency and DEFRA aimed at a speedy, safe and economical eradication of the Norovirus outbreak. Due to the new chemical engineering involved with Activ8, it has been awarded the highest classification that any cleaning product could possibly be given, meaning that no other cleaning product comes close.
3. Targeted preventative measures to minimise future outbreaks, reduce incidences of cross-infection and improve overall infection control procedures.
4. Continual on-site support and 24 hour 7 day per week helpline as part of the service.

First in the line of attack and defence was the use of the UK's leading cleaner disinfectant Activ8 developed and manufactured by Greenbridge Environmental.

All areas of the hotel were fumigated (fogged) using Activ8 vaporising fluid. The benefit of using this method is that the product is proven to eradicate the Norovirus, it is safe to use and economical. Areas can be treated quickly with minimum disruption and there is no need to remove any items such as furnishings and drapes, electrical equipment etc. Added to this is the benefit that, due to the safety of the product in use, all areas can be fully operational within 1 hour. When treating an average sized guest room it was calculated that full treatment was complete, in each room, in around 10 minutes at a cost of less than £1.50 per room. Hotel staff can easily be trained to use the product without the need of specialist supervision. Activ8 wipes and ready to use trigger sprays were used to clean and sanitise all surfaces and Activ8 carpet and floor cleaner used to clean all floors. A full hand hygiene programme was implemented including the use of NHS approved alcohol hand sanitisers.

Using proven and effective methods and products the entire outbreak was eradicated from the hotel within 3 days and there were no further infections among the guests and staff. Having seen the action being taken Environmental Health Officers allowed the hotel to remain open at all times.

The managing director of Anubis Healthcare commented; Firstly the hotel, general manager, management and staff must be commended for their prompt and professional response and hard work. It would be nice to see this kind of attitude in some of the healthcare establishments we have visited. It was also good to see that the hotel was supported by Britannia Hotels and their health and safety manager. Secondly we must thank Greenbridge Environmental for their support and assistance. Activ8 was the catalyst in all of this and the successful eradication of the Norovirus in such a short time has to be described as an exceptional achievement especially considering the minimum amount of disruption to the daily operation of the hotel. In a letter to Anubis Healthcare the general manager expressed his thanks and gratitude for the instant response and personal support you gave to the Grand Hotel Scarborough in tackling our exposure to the Norovirus.

ACTIV8 - Revolutionary new combined disinfectant cleaner

Greenbridge has long recognized that the very effective disinfectants used in high-risk contamination areas are poor cleaning agents, while the good cleaning agents used in low-risk areas are poor disinfectants.

About ACTIV8
Using independent scientific laboratories, Greenbridge has rigorously tested Activ8 against the most aggressive pathogens. Research has shown that bacteria spores provide the most robust defense against effective disinfectants, but Activ8 has been scientifically proven to eliminate Bacillus subtilis spores-commonly used as a surrogate for C diff, as shown in our Test data certificate from BluScientific in Glasgow.

Activ8 offers powerful cleaning and protection in a single, non-toxic, environmentally safe product suitable for medical, commercial or household use. Activ8 is ideal for use in the front line of infection control, with applications ranging from preventing the spread of MRSA and other super bugs in hospitals to stopping the spread of Avian Flu, SARS and other pandemics in public places.

Activ8 works by irreversibly binding, penetrating and immobilizing bacteria, viruses and fungi so that they cannot replicate, leaving surfaces disinfected and safe to use. In addition to providing powerful infection control for clinical environments such as hospitals, clinics, dental surgeries and nursing homes, Activ8's powerful cleaning and disinfecting properties make it ideal for use in any environment where good hygiene is important - from schools, leisure centres, offices, supermarkets and catering/food preparation areas to hotels, airports and aircraft, cruise ships and oil rigs.

What is the secret?
Its secret lies in its unique ability to penetrate the outer membranes of bacteria and viruses and rapidly render the genome material within the cell inactive - thus preventing replication, by dismantling the RNA or DNA. Other products currently only prevent growth for a period, but the cells will eventually regenerate and multiply again. Activ8 works in stark contrast to other disinfectants which simply affect the external cell wall by temporary attachment.

How easy is it to use?
The product is available as a Concentrated Floor Cleaner, Hard Surface Cleaner, Sanitization Wipes, Hand Soap and Vaporization Fluid. The products require no Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) or special storage requirements.