Worry about the avian flu has many people looking for prevention advice.
Experts advise you practice basic hygiene to protect yourself. They also suggest covering your mouth when coughing (to protect others from your germs) and washing your hands frequently.
But, if you turn to antibacterial soaps, are you doing yourself more harm than good?
Soap: Antibacterial vs Regular
An antibacterial soap is best when handling poultry, if you have some available, according to the Department of Food Science (DFS) at Purdue University.
But, an advisory panel with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not so sure.
The FDA plans to look into the matter at the end of the week when the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee discusses the benefits and risks of products like antibacterial hand-washes and body-washes.
The independent committee will look at long-term hazards, and make recommendations on the sales and labeling of antibacterial products. The FDA will then decide whether to restrict the availability of antibacterial soaps.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently studied whether household use of antibacterial soaps posed the risk of creating germs that are resistant to antibacterials and antibiotics. The one-year study of 224 households found that antibacterial products did not lead to a significant increase in resistant bacteria, or lead to healthier homes than regular soap. The study's authors called for longer term studies.
According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world's most pressing public health problems.
It can cause significant danger and suffering for people who have common infections that once were easily treatable with antibiotics. When antibiotics fail to work, the consequences are longer-lasting illnesses; more doctor visits or extended hospital stays; and the need for more expensive and toxic medications. Some resistant infections can cause death.
Sick individuals aren't the only people who can suffer the consequences. Families and entire communities feel the impact when disease-causing germs become resistant to antibiotics. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can quickly spread to family members, school mates and co-workers - threatening the community with a new strain of infectious disease that is more difficult to cure and more expensive to treat.
Don't be chicken of chickens, officials say
The National Chicken Council (NCC) reported Wednesday that Americans are not in danger of acquiring avian influenza.
"The Asian form of avian influenza (H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza, to be precise) does not exist, and has never existed, in the United States," said NCC Director of Communications Richard L. Lobb. "Nor do we import poultry or poultry products from those countries. Therefore, we do not recommend any extra or special precautions at this time."
The usual precautions for handling and cooking raw chicken, Lobb said, are printed on the wrapping of every package of raw chicken sold in this country.
"Basically, wash hands, utensils, cutting boards and countertops with hot soapy water; avoid cross-contamination; cook thoroughly (to a minimum internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit); and refrigerate leftovers promptly," he said. "These precautions would also be effective against avian influenza, if we had it, which we don't. No reason to do anything different."
"Plain soap is considered to be sufficient," Lobb said.
Tyson Foods reports that people in the U.S. should not worry about catching the bird flu as well, stating that it's currently limited to Vietnam and other Asian countries.
The company reports that biosecurity is a major priority in North American processing operations since the chickens are housed in modern, enclosed facilities, which prevent contact with wild birds and other potential carriers of disease.
"We also require the use of protective clothing when people visit poultry farms," one Tyson representative stated. "We're constantly monitoring our flocks for the presence of disease; including avian influenza. While Asia's focus is on highly pathogenic H5N1, there are other strains of avian influenza that can affect poultry. While these other forms are not common in commercial poultry production, they do appear occasionally. When this happens, the poultry industry works cooperatively with federal, state and local authorities to contain and eradicate the disease."
So, will washing up prevent the bird flu?
DFS scientists say that whenever handling food, it is important that all food contact surfaces are as clean and sanitary as possible. This is what will lower your chances of catching avian flu - if the bird you are handling is infected.
The first step is to wash your hands, DFS states. Human hands are natural carriers of disease-causing bacteria. Think of all the places a human hand touches in the course of a day. They are used to cover a sneeze, take out the garbage, and to cut raw pieces of chicken. These are just a few examples of the many activities that can contaminate hands. A contaminated hand can easily contaminate foods. Keep your hands clean.
How do I wash my hands?
The best way to wash hands is with soap, water - and friction, health officials say. Apply enough soap to start a good lather. Rub you hands together for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to recite the ABC's).
Be sure to scrub in between your fingers and on your forearms-these are the places that are easily missed, a Purdue report states. Rinse well with cool water, and use a clean paper towel to dry hands. Don't dry hands on an apron or your blue jeans - they may not be as clean as you think.
When do I wash my hands? You need to wash you hands anytime you contaminate them. Wash hands after going to the bathroom, handling garbage, touching raw animal foods like chicken, after blowing your nose, and playing catch with the family pet.
"The best rule of thumb is to always wash your hands before and after handling food," the Purdue report states.
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