Disease Prevention
- A.P.
- Sep 19, 2019
- 2 min read
The date is September 19th, 2019 and flu season has arrived. This year is the H3N2 strain.
With the flu rearing its head so early in the season, and with the resurgence of highly contagious viruses such as Tuberculosis (Consumption) and the Mumps; Disease Transmission Prevention has never been a more important topic to revisit.
Your hands are one of the biggest disease carriers and spreaders on your body
Your hands can transmit germs to your eyes, nose, mouth, other objects and other people. Depending on what germs you are transmitting, the bacteria or virus can survive for days thus increasing the likelihood of further exposure. Even after washing your hands, bacteria are still present. Hand-washing time should be at minimum 30 seconds. Optimal Hand-washing time is 90 seconds.
Wash your hands after coming in contact with the dirtiest objects you (and thousands of other people) touch every day that transmit viruses, bacteria, disease:
Money
Light Switches
Gas Pumps
Cell Phones
Computer Key Boards
Toilet Seat and Handle
Faucet Handles
Bathtubs
Remote Controls
Kitchen Sponges
Refrigerator Handles
Door Knobs
Shopping Carts
Car Steering Wheel
Everyone has a Germ Cloud...so bathe regularly
New research published in Science finds that the bacteria, viruses and yeast that live on and around our bodies form something of a cloud that is unique to every one of us. That cloud travels with us, leaving behind whatever bacteria or viruses we are exposed to or carrying. As such, it is possible that we are routinely exposed to harmful bacteria—living on us (and others), or in our environment.
We are routinely exposed to harmful bacteria—living on us and in our environment—but it only causes disease when our immune systems are otherwise disrupted.
Approach Flu season with caution
...and lead by example. Wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose, take immune supporting vitamins and supplements, stay home when you are sick and especially when you have a fever; and educate others to do the same.
Many people are unlikely to stay home when ill due to the fear of pay or even job-loss; but staying home when you are sick is the best thing you can do for all involved. Getting rest dramatically cuts down on the duration of illness by allowing your body to focus all of its attention on fighting off whatever infection you are down with. Staying home also helps prevent further spread of the virus - your family, friends and co-workers will thank you!
You are still contagious up to 7-10 days after the last day you had symptoms!
Hand-washing and covering the mouth and nose are the two most basic and most important steps at prevention that people can take. It doesn’t cost anything and it doesn’t take more than a few seconds and the development of some muscle memory.
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