Computers spreading coughs and colds!

Office supplies firm Durable launched 'Computer Cleaning Week' on Monday to tackle the issue, which it said led to 60% of "time off work illnesses" such as coughs and colds.

Research by Durable, to promote the week, revealed that 75% of office workers had dirty computer screens, which it claimed could lead to headaches, eye strain and even nausea.

The survey also found that 90% eat lunch at their desks, filling cracks in keyboards and smearing screens and telephones with dust, dirt, food crumbs and drink stains. Worse than that, 72% even admitted to picking their noses at work!

Stewart Anderson, vice president of marketing, at Durable UK said: "Our research on office hygiene found some shocking results. The mystery remains as to why we spend fortunes on household cleaning products yet seem perfectly content to work in a germ ridden, bacteria infested place everyday."

Spreading germs

Whilst 'Computer Cleaning Week' may be dismissed by some as an office cleaning products marketing ploy, the survey does highlight problems with office hygiene.

For example, the study found that 22% of people failed to wash their hands before preparing food at the office. And with 65% of office workers regularly sharing PC's and telephones, it is easy to see how coughs and colds could be spread among workers.

According to the health chain Boots, the average Briton endures three colds a year and suffers from flu eight times every ten years.

As many as 49% of people it polled said they believed that catching a cold was a justifiable reason for taking a day off work.

Weakened immunity

Maeve O'Connell, Boots pharmacist, commented: "Cold and flu can spread like wildfire, especially in an enclosed environment such as schools and offices.

"Good hygiene is essential, the flu virus can be transmitted by touching the same door handle, escalator, even shaking hands with someone who is carrying the virus."

Boots warned that modern UK lifestyles could be creating "ideal conditions" for a national flu epidemic.

"Our modern-day culture of 24/7 living coupled with stress at work, lengthy commutes and a reliance on convenience food could also be breeding a new generation of people with weakened immune systems, making it easier for new strains of flu to take hold and sweep through the nation," said a spokesperson.

"In addition, seasonal flu epidemics occur every few years and the last time the UK saw above average flu incidence was in 2000."