Study shows washing hands may not prevent flu

Study shows washing hands may not prevent flu

You’ve heard it time and time again. Wash your hands to prevent disease.

But research done in 2007 and presented by the Canadian Medical Association Journal Thursday found there is no evidence that hand washing prevents the flu.

The report, commissioned by the Public Health Agency of Canada and described in a news article on the CMAJ’s website, stated that current evidence shows flu is primarily spread through the air.

Despite the results, the Public Health Agency of Canada continues to recommend handwashing to prevent the flu because there is “substantial evidence” to support washing to prevent infection.

“We really do think handwashing is a safeguard,” Dr. Donald Low, microbiologist-in-chief at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto told CTV News Channel. He chaired the handwashing study.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Rau, who was not involved in the study, explained to CTV News Channel the information that flu is spread mostly through the air is not altogether new.

“There’s a small portion of flu that can be transmitted by shaking hands with someone who has it and then touching your eye or your mouth… or touching an inanimate surface like a bus pole,” he said. “But most flu is transmitted through cough and sneezing.

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(se: Oh shit!  We’re all going to die! Ok.. Well maybe you will. not me though..  Anyhow this H1N1 flu is funny.  You see “wash your hands” signs, and hand sanitizers everywhere.  In my office building you see people kicking the revolving door around with their feet, pressing elevator buttons with their elbows, and sliding though closing doors like ninjas to avoid touching them.  Now that it may not be dependant on washing your hands, I wonder if you will see people wearing face masks, like in the good old days of SARS, where it was supposed to kill us.  Or bird flu, that was supposed to kill us.  Seems like every year there is something trying to kill us.  Listen up germs, we’re humans, we’re amazing at killing ourselves.  We don’t need you!)