European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control swine flu guidelines: 'cough hygienically' into your sleeve?

摘要

I read with interest the paper entitled 'Controlling the novel A (H1N1) influenza virus: don't touch your face!' by Macias et al. Sneezing or coughing may very effectively spread respiratory secretions containing microbial agents such as influenza virus. Official recommendations for infection prevention concerning the novel A (H1N1) influenza virus include advice to be careful not to spread the virus when coughing or sneezing.However, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommends coughing or sneezing into the sleeve, upper sleeve or the crook of the elbow, 'to cover your mouth and nose, if you do not have a tissue close by. This is also recommended by the World Health Organization - 'if I think I have the illness.'Thus, international health institutions recommend healthy and sick persons to use their own sleeves and clothes as handkerchiefs. This is a bad habit in ordinary daily life, a risky habit during pandemics with airborne microbes, and may increase the spread of influenza virus in the environment.