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Swine flu - Sanitation medicine recommends disinfection of hands in all public places

Written by Dr. H. P. Bustami

Tuesday, 08 September 2009

Aylin Hammann, PhD-student at the Institute of Sanitation Science in Greifswald, Germany, shows how to desinfect the hands properly. photograph: Janke/UKG

Medical doctors of the German Institute of Sanitation medicine in Greifswald recommend to provide disinfection opportunities at all public places to reduce the spread of Swine Flu which is caused by H1N1, a mutation of an influenca virus. "Disinfection of hands is able to stop the transmission ways and next to vaccination the most effective way to avoid infections", says Prof. Dr. med. Axel Kramer, chair of the German society for sanitation medicine. Experts expect a new infection wave of Swine Flu during the winter season. Predictions about size and number of this coming pandemie are difficult to make.

Next to medical problems in public health numerous economical consequences can accrue from a swine flu pandemic.

A study revealed: if there is a pandemic with 100.000 deaths and 300.000 infected patients which have to be treated in a hospital then the economical damage will be around 25-75 billion Euros. This does not yet include economical losses in tourism, consume or a lowered productivity in companies due to more sick days of the employees.

The normal transmission way of the H1N1-virus is simliar to that of other influence pathogens: contact with infected people, contaminated items and droplet infection (cough, sneezing and talking). Hand wash is a suitable way to eliminate the virus, but it needs at least 40 seconds washing to deactivate it. The hand wash has to be done at least ten times a day. Unfortunately in public places (public transportation, public buildings) there are very few wash opportunities. So in reality people cannot comply with recommendations to wash your hands to avoid infection. Different from that is the hand desinfection. It is easier, deactivates quicker and more reliable the pathogen and is not bound to certain places. A small tube or small "pocket bottles" with 100 or 200 ml can be taken away everywhere. Suitable are all alcohol containing products for hand disinfection which are sold in pharmacies and in the Internet.

Cheap and accepted alternative

Several tests conducted in public places (e.g. in public buildings in the city of Greifswald, Germany or in a highschool in the US) revealed clear correlation of decrease of infectious diseases and providing facilities for hand disinfection. Also the acceptance among the population for this new mean of prevention is high.

Due to the scientists this method can contribute - in times of swine flu pandemics - to contain the spread of new pathogens. It is cheap and helps improving economy as well as public health.

Source: http://idw-online.de

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