Congratulations to our wonderful employee Stephanie! Stephanie has successfully completed her advanced training in professional cleaning, and carpet cleaning. She was awarded her level 2 certification March 18th, 2013. This is a picture of Jennifer on the left, and Stephanie on the right congratulating her on a job well done. Thank you Stephanie for all your hard work.

Scientists have worked out how a deadly new virus which was unknown in humans until last year is able to infect human cells and cause severe, potentially fatal damage to the lungs.

In one of the first detailed studies of the virus – which emerged in the Middle East and has so far infected 15 people worldwide, killing nine of them – Dutch researchers identified a cell surface protein it uses to enter and infect human cells.

Click below to learn more:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/13/us-virus-mechanism-idUSBRE92C10620130313

Rabbit

This might be located in North Carolina, but we sure have a bunch of rabbit’s running around here in Hutto.

RALEIGH, N.C. (CBS Charlotte) - Officials with both the North Carolina Division of Public Health and the Wildlife Commission are urging hunters to be wary about rabbit fever after two hunters contracted it this month.

Their warning, reported by the Wilson Times, comes just before the end of rabbit hunting season on Feb. 28.

The disease, tularemia, is a rare and possibly fatal affliction that has already affected two members of a hunting party in the state recently – and has led to a confirmed 17 cases overall since 1999.

“It can make you very, very sick,” Marilyn Haskel, a veterinarian and epidemiologist with the DPH, told the paper. “We want hunters to know you can get very sick and the rabbit can appear very normal.”

Symptoms reportedly include ulcers, swollen lymph glands, or even pneumonia, in addition to other ailments.

Hunters could be exposed to tularemia through tick bites and handling infected bodies of killed rabbits. Eating tainted food could also lead to an infection, the Times is reporting.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, tularemia could also play a part in chemical and biological warfare.

The CDC noted, according to the paper, “If [the bacteria] were used as a bioweapon, the bacteria would likely be made airborne so they could be inhaled.”

Referenced from: http://charlotte.cbslocal.com/2013/02/21/wildlife-officials-warn-hunters-of-deadly-rabbit-fever/

This maid hired over in the Philippines decided to attack her client. One of the many reasons why when looking for someone to clean your home, you find a good reputable business that has ties to places like the BBB, or local Chamber of Commerce. It also helps to find out if the company you choose runs criminal background checks, and drug screenings on their employees. This will help and bring piece of mind, this way you don’t have to run these checks yourself.  Remember, you are letting this person in to your home around all your worldly possessions. How safe are you?

Below is a quick story of what happened.

WARNING: BEWARE OF THIS MAID SHE ATTACKED MY MOM (TITA BABY TO MOST OF YOU)

Thursday around 6pm her new maid (1 week) poured cooking oil all over the floor outside her bedroom leading to the dining room, after she turned the main switch of the circuit breaker off to make it appear there’s no power. When mom got out of the room, she slipped but did not totally fall on the floor, she was able to hold on to a chair nearby. She dropped the cellphones she held on the same chair. She quickly got up and even asked the maid to get some rags to place over the oil. Holding her flashlight, she was trying to scan the ceiling for leaks while walking towards the stairs to go up and check the next floor. She told the maid to go ahead of her because she can’t see and had difficulty walking due to the slip. She noticed the maid holding a bottle of whiskey. When asked the maid said the alcohol can be used for the slippery floor. She thought nothing of it and on the second floor mom noticed all the drawers were open. They checked to see one of the rooms and if there were any open windows. After checking she went back to the stairs to go down this time the maid was behind her. The maid pushed and kicked her towards the stairs. She fell and when she reached the bottom of the stairs the maid swung the bottle at her. She instinctively covered her head with her right arm so the bottle hit her hand and head. The maid then sprayed wd40 in here eyes and was about to hit her when she leaped from the bottom of the stairs back to her bedroom door. She was able to lock herself in the room, opened the back window and cried for help. When help arrived from my aunt living next door, the maid was gone and was able to sneak out the village guard. Mom suffered head injuries, 2 completely fractured fingers and bruises on her back, hands and feet. Thank god CT Scan and X-ray supported that these were the only injuries. When I went back with the inspectors, on the dining table was another mallet and a separated scissor to be used had she slipped flat on her back.

THIS MAID GOES BY THE NAME OF RUBILYN NATIVIDAD MAPE FROM CAGAYAN (according to her biodata). ANY INFORMATION LEADING TO HER WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED. OUR FAMILY ALONG WITH THE COPS ARE STILL SEARCHING.

Referenced here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200404707146283&set=a.10200404884870726.2197348.1413954613&type=1&theater

Stop the flu in its tracks                  Now it is more important than ever to take note of your health and be careful of how you deal with your personal hygiene.  The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has recently labeled the influenza virus as an epidemic spreading throughout the entire nation.

There are steps you can take to prevent getting the flu

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.

• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

• Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

• Keep your home and work area clean from germs by using a disinfectant and or sanitizer.

• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

Always seek medical treatment or call 911 in case of an emergency.

References: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/#S4

Influenza Vaccines & Sprays

Yes there is a nasal spray…

Did you know the flu vaccine can be administered through the nose in a form of a nasal spray? It certainly can and is recommended if you or your child prefer not getting a shot.
Click here: http://www.flu.gov/prevention-vaccination/vaccination/index.html to find out more information and to find where to get the vaccine in your area.

CDC Flu Map

The CDC has rated Texas as Widespread for the flu. What does this mean for you?

A flu vaccine would certainly help, however remembering proper hygiene, distancing yourself from others that may have the flu, and keeping a healthy and clean area that you live and work in will all help. We use hospital grade disinfectants and sanitizers in all of our cleaning jobs. Now might be a good time to have your home or office cleaned. You and your families health should be vitally important. Find out everything you need to know about the flu virus and more by going to: http://www.flu.gov/ and contact us at (512) 415-0134 today, or visit our website by clicking home at the top of this page to receive your free no obligation estimate.

Check out BitTekSolutions.com for all your technology needs. It is our other business we have opened. Christian has been designing websites since the age of 12, which recently received his degree in Web Design & Interactive Media from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online. Christian also has vastly amounts of knowledge having a prior computer repair business in Florida and having worked for a few different technology companies like Circuit City, Dell, Solectron (now known as Flextronics,) and Apple.

We want to give everyone the opportunity to have a wonderful Christmas this year. We are taking donations for families in need of food, health, cosmetic items, clothes, and toys. These items will be donated to the local community food pantry, and other local charities in need of donations. Please let us know you would like to donate, and we will bring the items there.

Right now, we are offering to help our Hurricane Sandy Victims with every $100 spent $5 will be donated to The American Red Cross. They need your help. Financial donations can make the biggest impact but all kinds of donations are encouraged like canned foods, blankets, clothing, water, and even blood and platelet donations.

Please book service with us today so we can help out the Hurricane Sandy Victims, we will also accept any donations while servicing your home or business, and bring these donated items to The American Red Cross.

Soap scum is one of the hardest things to clean, especially if you do not have a water softener leading to hard water stain build up. A simple solution is to combine 1/4 cup of vinegar in most spray bottles, 1 fresh half lemon squeezed in to the solution, and fill the rest up with water. Give it a good shake and then spray the affected area then let sit for about a half hour. This should help to eat away at the tough stains. Use a razor blade for really thick soap scum build up being careful not to cut yourself. Also use a scour pad to combat other affected areas. Rinse with a wet cloth and repeat the process again if necessary. The acidity from the lemon will really help to cut through some of the grime. When done, use some window cleaner to make that glass really sparkle. Some other product cleaners we have found to help is Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner spray. You can pick this up in most retail stores.

Do you have a different method of cleaning soap scum? We would love to hear about it. Let us know what you use in the comments.