Germs & Hygiene

How Illness Spreads

Respiratory Droplets (Sneezing & Coughing)

The reality:

• Large droplets fall within 1-2 meters
• Smaller aerosols can stay airborne longer
• Direct face-to-face contact is highest risk
• Respiratory viruses like flu spread primarily in close contact settings^[2]

Surface Contamination

Viruses and bacteria can survive on surfaces, but transmission risk varies:

• Hard surfaces – bacteria can survive hours to days
• Soft surfaces – generally lower survival rates
• Effective cleaning significantly reduces contamination risk^[3]

Food Safety

Raw Chicken: The Real Risk

Cross-contamination from raw chicken is a real and documented risk^[5].

How to handle safely:

• Use separate cutting boards for raw meat
• Wash hands thoroughly after handling
• Clean all surfaces that contacted raw chicken
• Don't wash chicken (spreads bacteria via splashing)
• Cook to internal temperature of 74°C/165°F

Food Poisoning Facts

Food poisoning is common but largely preventable^[6].

High-risk foods:

• Raw/undercooked meat and poultry
• Raw eggs and products containing them
• Unpasteurized dairy
• Raw sprouts
• Pre-cut fruits and vegetables

Lower-risk than you might think:

• Food dropped briefly on clean floors (more below)
• Day-old cooked food properly refrigerated
• Food past "best by" dates (often still safe)

Hand Hygiene

Handwashing vs Hand Sanitizer

Both handwashing and sanitizers are effective, with some differences^[8].

When to wash hands:

• After using the bathroom
• Before eating or preparing food
• After handling raw meat
• After touching animals
• After blowing nose, coughing, sneezing
• After touching public surfaces

Sanitizer is fine when:

• Hands aren't visibly dirty
• Soap and water unavailable
• Between handwashes in healthcare settings

Common Myths

Reality: Bacteria transfer to food within milliseconds of contact. However, the actual risk depends on the surface and food type. Dry food on a dry, clean floor is lower risk than wet food on a wet surface.

Reality: Not every exposure leads to infection. Your immune system, the pathogen load, and whether you're already immune all matter. But yes, it significantly increases your risk.

Reality: Risk is real but not certain. Proper handwashing eliminates the bacteria. The danger is forgetting to wash or touching food/your face before washing.

Reality: For most purposes, regular soap is equally effective. Antibacterial soaps offer no proven benefit for typical household use and may contribute to antibiotic resistance.

Practical Tips

• Wash hands often – 20 seconds with soap, especially before eating
• Keep raw meat separate – dedicated cutting board and utensils
• Clean high-touch surfaces – doorknobs, phones, keyboards
• Cough/sneeze into elbow – not hands
• Stay home when sick – reduces spread to others
• Don't touch your face – main route for respiratory infections