RACINE, Wis. -- With avian flu advancing across Asia
and appearing in the United States, JohnsonDiversey Inc. is partnering with
its customers across the globe to launch an offensive against the spread of
the virus. The effort includes offering products that are registered by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and proven effective against avian
influenza.
A global leader in the commercial cleaning and hygiene industry,
JohnsonDiversey is working with customers in the intensive livestock and
poultry processing, quick service restaurant and retail industries to stop the
spread of this dangerous virus.
"In 2003, JohnsonDiversey was at the forefront of the fight against SARS,
working in partnership with our customers in the Asia-Pacific region and
around the world to implement the most effective cleaning and disinfecting
strategies," said Greg Lawton, JohnsonDiversey president and CEO. "Following
the SARS outbreak, we used our front-line experience to customize a total
solution of products, training, hygiene protocols and up-to-date information
for individual countries and customer types. This aggressive strategy is now
being applied to the fight against avian flu."
JohnsonDiversey customers are responding quickly and forcefully to the
threat of avian flu, Lawton said.
"Our leading Asia-Pacific-based customers in the affected industries have
said fighting avian flu and giving their customers confidence is their number
one priority," said Lawton, who recently toured customer facilities in the
Asia-Pacific region.
Across the world in food plants, restaurants, retail food outlets and
health care facilities, JohnsonDiversey solution providers are training
customers in infection control protocols and effective product application
techniques to avoid further spread of the virus.
Based on infection control strategies that proved effective in last year's
battle against SARS, JohnsonDiversey's program consists of a four-pronged
attack against the virus.
1. Detailed protocols developed for specific customer types in regions
around the world. Consistent with World Health Organization recommendations,
JohnsonDiversey's protocols include strong hygienic practices for
the proper handling of poultry, disinfection of surfaces, and
thorough handwashing. For food-related customers, JohnsonDiversey
offers a "farm to fork" approach that applies bio-security and food-
safety practices along the entire food chain. This approach begins
by applying these safe practices at hatcheries and chicken farms, as
well as at slaughter houses and food-processing plants. Ultimately,
these protocols are applied to poultry sold to food retail and
restaurant locations around the world.
2. Vigorous customer training for controlling the spread of infectious
disease
JohnsonDiversey has launched a campaign to provide training on
effective cleaning and hygienic practices for hundreds of customers
across Asia as well as North America and Europe. During the height
of the SARS battle in 2003, JohnsonDiversey trained customers
worldwide in the retail, health care, hospitality and food
processing industries, affecting the practices of thousands of their
employees around the world.
3. Products specifically tested and proven effective against avian
influenza
To swiftly fulfill heightened demand, JohnsonDiversey increased the
availability and distribution of all key products used in the fight
against infectious disease. JohnsonDiversey has five products
registered by the U.S. EPA as effective against avian influenza.
These products include the Virex disinfectants: Virex 128,
Virex II 256, and Virex Tb. Additional products include
Forward DC disinfectant cleaner and Expose II 256, a
phenolic disinfectant for hard surfaces. These five products are
widely available for use in the United States and the Asia-Pacific
regions.
4. Infection control Web site that serves as a clearinghouse of current
information about both avian flu and SARS
JohnsonDiversey last year launched a widely recognized SARS Web site
that was populated with up-to-date information, links and procedures
for controlling the spread of disease. The site has been expanded
this year to include information and protocols for fighting avian
flu, and provides current links on avian flu and SARS. Visit the
site at http://www.johnsondiversey.com .
Source: JohnsonDiversey Inc.
