New here and in fear

[Bunnyjess]

Hi everyone
i'm Jess and I live in Perth, Western Australia. I have had emetophobia ever since I can remember and this is my 14th year without v*. Anyway it's coming into sv season in Perth and I think it has started to do the rounds. I work in retail part time and I heard a couple of staff are sick. On top of that one of our staff members went home sick because she couldn't stop v*. To make things worse i was having a conversation with her minutes before her v* episode. I think I am safe for now but I'm afraid to return to work or use their toilets without panicking whether the possible sv is still hanging around. How should I approach this? There is a high chance it's food poisoning which is not contagious but I'm not taking that small chance that it is a highly contagious sv that has claimed three staff at once!

[NicManri]

Welcome. Is your work bathroom a single bathroom? If so I would take some sanitizing wipes (make sure they kill noro) and wipe things down like the toilet flusher, factuet, light switch and door handled.

[janoski006]

I know exactly how you feel. I am a teacher so I face this fear everyday, as even though it may not be the season, somehow one of my students may be caring it around. What I do to make myself feel safer is make a light bleach mixture. You can easily find the recipe on a website. Just a small amount of bleach mixed with water in a spray bottle. Make some and bring it to work. Spray things you feel might be contaminated and let it dry or leave it for a few minutes before wiping it. I keep bleach and a spray bottle at my desk at work and disinfect every few days. Make sure to make a fresh batch after a few hours though, because the bleach loses it's effectiveness after it's deluded for too long.
Don't worry you will be fine! You didn't touch or share bodily fluids with any of the employees. Just try your best to disinfect and not touch your face. Stay strong and god bless!

[Bunnyjess]

Thanks for the advice! Might be handy to keep sanitising wipes in my locker along with the bleach. We have 4 ladies toilets but staff and customers share them (it's feral) so I think our toilets need a double dose disinfectant! Hopefully another season passes with me dodging the sv...

[IR23]

Welcome! Like everyone else said, bring disinfecting wipes to work, wash your hands, and try to be careful where you place your hands. I hope everything turns out ok for you & your co workers!