Handshake

  • Hepatitis A scare for Australian Afghani community

    Posted: December 18th, 2009 - 3:21am by Doug Powell

    An employee who worked on the butcher's counter at an Adelaide supermarket has tested positive for hepatitis A, prompting a health warning.

    The supermarket specialises in retailing products to the Afghan community.

    "While the chances of becoming infected are small, we're asking customers who bought produce from the butcher's counter during the infectious period to be aware of the risk," director of public health Kevin Buckett said.

    Hepatitis A is spread when traces of faecal matter containing the virus contaminate hands, objects, water or food and are then taken in by mouth.

    The 'ole poop-on-the-hands-oral-fecal-route routine.

    Dr Buckett said employees from the Vatan supermarket had been offered a vaccination against hepatitis A and health officials continued to work with the business owners to inform the local Afghan community of the health warning.

    He said 55 cases of hepatitis A had been reported in South Australia so far this year compared to just 19 in 2008.

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    Hepatitis A, Salmonella  |  0 Comments
    Afgand, Australia, Butcher, Handshake, Marketing, Poop
  • UK school bans handshake tradition amid E. coli fears

    Posted: April 22nd, 2008 - 9:10am by Doug Powell

    The traditional handshaking ceremony that takes place after assemblies at Bedales School in Steep, near Petersfield, has been temporarily scrapped amid fears it could spread infection.

    Headteacher Keith Budge said he made the decision after being told on Sunday that a 15-year-old student had been diagnosed with E. coli O157.

    "We have already checked hygiene arrangements across the school and will be advising all staff and students to follow good hygiene practice. The school's traditional handshaking ceremony after assembly has been suspended until we get the all-clear."
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    E. coli, Food Safety Policy  |  0 Comments
    Handshake
  • Kiss, not handshake to avoid illness

    Posted: December 21st, 2007 - 7:08am by Doug Powell

    Researchers say kissing may be safer than shaking hands.

    Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and chairwoman of the International Scientific Forum for Home Hygiene, said that a recent study published in the American Journal of Infection Control said to avoid catching flu, stomach aches, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, salmonella or C. difficile, people should pay greater attention to good hand hygiene.

    Good hygiene at home can mean fewer infections spread among family members and fewer patients demanding antibiotics. But good hygiene is more than just washing hands -- surfaces that spread germs via hands such as door handles, tap handles, toilet seats and cleaning cloths also need regular hygienic cleaning.

    Clothing and linens, baths, basin and toilet surfaces can also play a part in spreading germs between family members in the home, the report said.
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    Wacky and Weird  |  0 Comments
    Germs, Handshake, Kiss