If you’ve recently touched down at Phuket airport you may have noticed airport workers scrubbing the building and singing while they work.

Staff at Phuket International Airport took part in a Big Clean Day recently, scrubbing down all areas that could be possible transmission sites for the A(H1N1) virus.

Staff were encouraged to sing “Happy Birthday” while they washed their hands as it takes about 20 seconds to sing – the amount of time needed to ensure all germs are neutralized.

In an interview with the Phuket Gazette Airports of Thailand (AOT) chairman Piyaphan Champasut commented that: “We’re cleaning and repairing the airport because it’s been in use for a long time. We want to make it a clean, attractive and welcoming environment for tourists. And as swine flu spreads during 2009, passengers will trust in the standards of hygiene here.”

Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) officers have visited the airport to drill staff members on the correct cleaning and health procedures necessary in order to make sure that the airport stays virus-free.

So visitors to Phuket can be sure that the airport not only looks clean but is free from germs and viruses.