|
Shaking hands can spread all sorts of bacteria and viruses, as can touching surfaces like doorknobs that have been touched by many other people, or just one sick person. Keeping your hands away from your face until you can wash them well, or use hand sanitizer, is the thing to do. The site I read said you should rub the hand sanitizer on your hands thoroughly and allow it to air dry so I won't be drying my hands on a Kleenex in the future!
The representative of CDC talked about the dangers of bacterial infections, including MRSA infections, following cases of influenza.
We get a flu shot every year and a pneumonia shot every five years. I know a lot of people don't like to get flu shots but with MRSA as a possible complication, it might be time to reconsider that position. We've never had a reaction to flu vaccine or pneumonia vaccine and I've never heard of anyone having a reaction that was as bad as influenza is, i.e., that put them in bed for two weeks with high fever, possibly with chills and hallucinations due to the high fever, aching all over, unable to eat much, having to make an effort to drink fluids like Gatorade and ginger ale, taking something to reduce fever. We had it in 1970 and in 1982; after the second time, we started getting the shots.
|