Flu-Proof Yourself And Family This Winter

MEDIA RELEASE

29 April, 2010

Flu-Proof Yourself And Family This Winter

As the cold and flu season rapidly approaches, the Hygiene Council recommends that New Zealanders practise better hygiene habits. A recent global survey conducted by the Hygiene Council and sponsored by Dettol, discovered that infection is on the increase due to a common ignorance in basic hygiene standards. It would appear that as a nation we are not as clean and safe as we think.

Last year’s swine flu pandemic demonstrated the need for better hygiene practices when it comes to protecting our families against germs. In anticipation of a third wave of H1N1 this year, Professor John Oxford, Chairman of the Hygiene Council and leading expert in virology fears that many New Zealanders will have lost the good hygiene habits they adopted during last year’s pandemic.

“It’s important we don’t become complacent when it comes to practicing good hygiene. New Zealand lost 19 Kiwis to swine flu last year and during the crisis became critically aware of basic hygiene principles. We want to remind New Zealanders of the seriousness of influenza and highlight the fact that simple hygiene measures such as hand washing and surface disinfection are an effective defence against all kinds of infection. ”

The three areas where Kiwis need to step up their hygiene habits are in the home, especially on kitchen surfaces, hand and food contact and, surprisingly, the laundry. Without realising we could be putting ourselves and in particular, children at an unnecessary risk.

The home is a pretty dangerous place when it comes to exposure to viruses and bacteria. The survey found that 9 out of 10 kitchen cloths across the world contain unsatisfactory levels of bacteria, with over three-quarters being heavily contaminated.

“Kitchens are generally considered to be danger zones as it is the place where we handle foods and throw away leftovers. Germs happily thrive on old food scraps and spread very easily from surfaces to people; some germs can survive on kitchen surfaces for 48 hours or more. Universally the kitchen cloth is the dirtiest item in the household so it is essential to disinfect it regularly to prevent the spread of germs all around the kitchen.” Professor Oxford explains.

Hands are one of the most common germ sources. The survey found that only 3 in 5 parents claim their children always wash their hands before eating.

“Washing hands is one of the most effective and simple ways to prevent the spread of germs, yet people are often guilty of neglecting this. Germs are easily passed on from person to person in everyday activity; typing on a key-board, flushing the toilet, throwing out rubbish, changing nappies...if you don’t thoroughly wash your hands you could be carelessly putting your health and the health of your child at risk,” Professor Oxford says.

The laundry too is a forgotten area when it comes to hygiene. Its very nature implies that it is clean, however, germs can spread between contaminated and uncontaminated clothing during washing.

“The laundry is often overlooked as a source of infection. Washing at low temperatures will not kill bacteria and viruses so I recommend washing at 60º C. If you prefer to wash at a lower temperature then a laundry disinfectant can be used to destroy germs,” explains Professor Oxford.

While Professor Oxford agrees that it is unrealistic to think that we can create and live in a totally germ-free environment, he believes New Zealanders must not become complacent when it comes to personal hygiene and germs, especially when caring for young children. He stresses that prevention should be the first priority to protect ourselves this winter.

“Children and infants are likely to be at a higher risk of being exposed to germs. Kids tend to be naturally very sociable; they hug each other, kiss each other and have a lot more physical contact with each other than adults. All of this, coupled with their lack of hygiene knowledge unfortunately makes children very susceptible to catching and spreading germs, resulting in sickness,” explains Professor Oxford.

Before the cold and flu season unfolds, Professor Oxford provides the following tips to help protect you and your family and substantially lower the risk of getting sick;

• Wash your hands frequently with a good quality antibacterial handwash

• Carry an alcohol based hand sanitizer at all times – apply before and after preparing food, after leaving the office, encourage children to use it after the playground

• Clean frequently touched surfaces such as taps and light switches regularly with antibacterial cleaning wipes

• Cough and sneeze into a tissue and wash your hands immediately after

ENDS

About the Hygiene Council

The Hygiene Council are a group of leading global experts bringing together experts in the fields of microbiology, virology, infectious disease, immunology, and public health. The aim is to revisit current hygiene practices in order to offer realistic recommendations to the public on the importance of hygiene in the home and community.

The Council review current infectious disease threats to society and formulate realistic recommendations on simple hygiene measures to help the public improve levels of hygiene in the home and community to prevent the spread of all kinds of infections measures.

The Hygiene Council is supported by Reckitt Benckiser worldwide.

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