How to avoid the H1N1 virus

Since I have suppressed immunities I am one of those “high risk” individuals for catching the flu this season. I did not get a vaccination becausethey ran out before I got in line. So I am perhaps more conscious than others of practices and situations that are more risky than others.

For example, In my church we do communion every week with an open plate of bread pieces. This AM started thinking about it and I became alarmed. There are two plates of bread and this means that about half of the church grabs a piece of bread from and breathes on each of the plates. Not to mention the person who holds the plate at roughly chest level the whole time. It was not because of a spiritual eagerness that I was first in line this morning for communion. This observation was probably based on another thing I experienced this week: 5-6 people gathering in a house and sharing chips out of a bowl. I suddenly felt enlightened and I thought: “I can’t believe we are doing this”! So the principle here is:

• Be careful with communal eating, especially taking food by hand from a common plate.

Another one: Shaking hands. As is well known the primary matrix for the flu is hands. Of course, the virus comes out through coughing, sneezing or spittle. But generally that does not travel from one person to another. Usually it gets on a surface and is transmitted to hands and hands go to faces (mouth, nose, eyes). I doubt that we can break the habit of shaking hands, and we don’t really need to. It’s the other habit that needs breaking:

• Keep hands out of face! I’m no expert, but as I understand it this is the primary way in which the flu is caught.

A final thought for now: We need to think not just in terms of how to protect ourselves, but how to protect our communities. One thing I see as problematic is self assessment. I don’t know how many times someone with cold/flu symptoms has told me that it’s OK because they are no longer contagious. HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT? Are you a doctor? Has the doctor declared you contagion free? Do you even have any idea of what you are talking about? Let’s be clear about this: You have no right to make medical assumptions that put others at risk. If you aren’t healthy you might be contagious, so make the assumption that protects others.

There is an exception, though: You can wear a mask.  If you do that and wash your hands (and you seem to be recovering) I think it is appropriate to appear in public with a mask. Unfortunately we don’t have a culture that values this extremely sensible practice. I think we need to start! Of course we can also wear masks to protect ourselves from sick people.  Remember that it’s mainly the hands that make you sick, but the mask protects you both ways. It minimizes risk of breathing in the virus, but is also keeps your hands out of your mouth and nose.  So:

• Don’t mix with others if you have flu symptoms (btw: a cough is not a sufficient symptom).
• If you might be contagious, wear a mask. It’s not that big of a deal.
• If you fear contagion, wear a mask. It’s not that big of a deal.

For a flu self-assessment and other good info go to: flu.gov