The Best Safeguard against Illness

Two of the best weapons for preventing flu or some other potentially serious illness this winter are your nearest bathroom sink and a bar of soap.

Plain soap and water, coupled with about 15 seconds of friction while you apply the soap lather to your hands, are the single most effect effective safeguards against infectious disease, said Judy Daly, secretary of the American Society for Microbiology and a professor of pathology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, who was interviewed recently by HealthScout.com. It is a view supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hand washing, in fact, has been shown to prevent everything from the common cold or influenza to more serious illnesses such as hepatitis and SARS. Infections are the leading cause of death and disease worldwide and the third leading cause of death in the United States, HealthScout.com reports.

When should you wash you hands? Anytime you think you’ve been exposed to bacteria, experts say. Some prime examples include: after sneezing or coughing into to your hands; before, during and after preparing food; before eating; after using the bathroom; after changing a diaper; and, after handling money.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at January 26, 2004 08:49 AM