During Phase 6 of a pandemic, it is probable that you will touch contaminated objects as you go about your daily life, and this might also occur in earlier phases, especially Phases 4 and 5. In this way, you could catch influenza from another person whom you never saw. It will not be possible for you to control who touches things before you do. What you can control is what comes in contact with your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Touching and handling an object is not sufficient to cause you to be infected with influenza. It is the act of bringing your contaminated hands in contact with your mucous membranes that allows your body to be infected with influenza.
Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth at all times. Improved handwashing rates have been shown to decrease infection rates in hospitals and also in community settings. It is estimated that one out of three people do not wash their hands after using a toilet, so this is an especially important measure when you are out in public, especially if you are about to eat a meal or touch your face.
Cough and sneeze etiquette
At some point during a pandemic, you will need to cough or sneeze. Do so in such a way that if you are carrying influenza virus, you reduce the chance of spreading it. Cough and sneeze etiquette is sometimes referred to as respiratory hygiene. Not every cough that you have during a pandemic will be influenza.
You may be sneezing or coughing because of a cold or your allergies, but remember that you could at the same time be in the incubation period of influenza and be shedding virus anyway. Cough and sneeze etiquette is a worthwhile courtesy at all times, and even more relevant during an influenza pandemic.
Interacting with others
Turn away from the people around you. Don't cough or sneeze on people, and especially not in their faces. Ideally, cough or sneeze into a disposable paper tissue, holding it with your non-dominant hand (if you are right-handed, sneeze into a tissue in your left hand, and vice versa). Immediately throw the tissue away in a garbage can. Regard both hands as potentially contaminated, and wash them both thoroughly as soon as possible. Do not unnecessarily touch or handle any objects with either hand until you have done so.
Simple? Sounds like it. Easier said than done? Yes. Try it. Doing all these things in real life may be challenging. For instance, you may need to sneeze on the subway at rush hour. If you are in a crowded place and can't turn away from everyone, try to cover your nose and mouth as well as possible when you cough or sneeze. Or you may have run out of tissues. If so, cough or sneeze into your upper shirt sleeve. This piece of clothing is now certainly contaminated if you have influenza. After sneezing into your upper sleeve, don't push doors open with your shoulder.
Page 2 of 4 – One page 3, learn what to do if you're coughed on or sneezed on.
Excerpted from The Flu Pandemic and You: A Canadian Guide by Vincent Lam, M.D. and Colin Lee, M.D. Copyright 2006 Vincent Lam and Colin Lee. Reprinted by permission of Doubleday Canada.
