Germ Alert!

Used the lift, bought a drink from a vending machine or paid a visit to the ATM recently? Chances are you've encountered more than you bargained for and picked up potentially hazardous germs.

The World Health Organisation urges caution where large numbers of people congregate. "Especially when they are eating food… there is a greater risk of the spread of diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, typhoid and other diarrhoea-causing diseases."

These communicable diseases are very common in Nigeria, and our exposure to germs increases dramatically beyond the home. One studies shows that people touch up to 300 surfaces in a 30-minute period when out in public.

What's more, we often don't realise what's dirty and what isn't. A washroom survey of nearly 500 people in Sydney and Melbourne shows a majority avoid using public toilets when they can. Yet while 77 per cent said they wouldn't touch the toilet seat, only 36 per cent avoided the toilet door handle – often far worse for contamination.

Meanwhile, the US International Journal of Environmental Health Research reports twice as much contamination in playgrounds as in public restrooms. And other studies show vending machine and ATM buttons are also unhygienic, yet few people worry about touching them.

"We were surprised by our results because ATM machines were shown to be heavily contaminated with bacteria to the same level as nearby public lavatories," says microbiologist Dr Richard Hastings. Such contaminants are transferred to the hands and onto personal belongings almost 90 per cent of the time.

Lack of hand washing is the major culprit in creating unhygienic public spaces. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and water or using hand sanitiser – especially after using public facilities and before you eat – reduces the risk substantially.

You should also limit the surfaces you touch: do you really need support from the escalator railing? Best of all, be conscious of where your hands are, and avoid touching your mouth or nose, when out in public. You may be rewarded, and enjoy a cold and flu free rainy season.

Some Germ hotspots

Studies in Australia, the UK and USA show the following are the most unhygienic public spaces:

• Playgrounds and daycare centres
• Public toilets
• Light switches and door handles
• Lift, ATM and vending machine buttons
• Public phones
• Railings and supermarket trolley handles
• Remote controls in hotels
• Shared pens in banks and post offices
• Drinking fountains

Source: bodyandsoul