Stopping The Spread Of H1N1 Is All About Personal Responsibility
The H1N1 virus is an air borne virus. It is present in droplets floating through the air when an infected person coughs, or sneezes.
The good news is that the virus does not live long outside of the body. It stays air borne for a very short period. The problems begin though, when the droplets find a resting place, such as grocery carts, hands, and other surfaces. The easiest way to catch the H1N1 virus is by touching areas where the virus is present, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes.
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When someone infected with H1N1 coughs into their hands, then touches a grocery cart, or door handle, the virus moves from their hand to that object. The next person to touch that object now transfers the virus to his hands. A little while later, that person raises their hand to their mouth, or scratches their nose. The virus has just traveled from a sick person to an object to an uninfected persons hands, to their nose or mouth. If this person has a compromised immune system, or no anti-bodies to H1N1, then this person will most likely become sick with H1N1.
As you can see in the example above, the hands are the largest factor in transmitting the flu virus. The hands are a perfect area for the virus with moisture usually present. This is why washing your hands is so important. Washing does not kill the virus, but it does remove the majority of the virus from the hands. Even if you have had a vaccination against H1N1, washing your hands is still the most important thing you can do. You may never get the virus, but you may touch something with your virus laden hands, leaving the virus for someone else to deal with. Imagine a child touching a door knob that you just touched with unwashed hands. The flu traveled from your hands to the child and the child may catch the H1N1 flu.
Remember, the reason to wash your hands is not to kill the virus, but to remove it from your hands. Antibiotic soap is not needed and may actually do more harm than good. Most antibiotic soaps use triclosan which can kill good bacteria and possibly lead to antibiotic resistant strains that have adapted to become immune to the antibiotics. Ordinary soap is all that is required. If soap is not available, use an alcohol based hand wipe, or gel.
Besides coughing into your hands , a better alternative is to use a handkerchief , or the sleeve of you shirt / jacket. If you use a handkerchief, you must still wash your hands. You should also avoid raising your hand to your face as much as possible, and try to touch as little common areas as possible. Anything the public uses, door knobs, grocery carts, pens at the bank, could be covered with the virus, not to mention some very nasty bacteria.
The flu virus and other bugs are everywhere, it’s impossible not to come into contact with it throughout a normal day. The only way to have a chance of not catching the flu and spreading it is to wash your hands religiously.
