The Pope has been released from the hospital and the news report says "the flu that is spreading over Italy". Anyone headed that way, be forewarned!

Yeah, but packing the Purell won't help you. Purell is purportedly effective against bacteria; flu is viral.

February is always the peak month for flu. Wear a mask on the plane >

It's here in Wisconsin,too. I've already
diagnosed 4 this morning.

The type of mask that the public can acquire will protect people from you (e.g. coughing, sneezing). It won't do much to protect you from them.

Please: do NOT wear a mask on any plane that I am ALSO on because it is chaotic enough on planes without the hysteria your mask will cause.

Influenza is not only viral, but it is commonly spread by you inncoculating yourself with secretions found on surfaces or direct contact with someone else's secretions.

Forget the Purell and WASH your HANDS.

And if seriously, it's not only "wash your hands" but also don't touch your nose, eyes, and ears. I kid you not, I read it in a doctor's office.

I just called my doctor and I can get a flu shot tomorrow. I am in the US. Will this help protect against the strain of flu in Italy? How about on the plane? I leave on the 14th.

Thanks!

Intrepid, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, like Purell, kill 99.99 percent of the most common germs that may cause illness in less than 15 seconds, and without water. Since hand sanitizers are so convenient to carry and use, they tend to encourage use and therefore increase good hand hygiene.

Also, using soap and water often can cause chapped hands where the Purell does not.

The following is from the Mayo clinic:

"Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require use of water — are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. They're actually more effective than hand washing in killing bacteria and viruses that cause disease."

(I added the underlining. )

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/HQ/00407.html

The following is from the Mayo clinic:

&quot;Alcohol-based hand sanitizers — which don't require use of water — are an excellent alternative to hand washing, particularly when soap and water aren't available. They're actually more effective than hand washing in killing bacteria and <u>viruses</u> that cause disease.&quot;

http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/HQ/00407.html

NOW I've added the underlining!

DO pack the Purell--or whatever brand you use. It seems to me that we've had this conversation before. I distinctly remember someone making an exasperated comment about the misinformation of the &quot;average person&quot; about this issue when I suggested that we use it frequently in lieu of washing and that doing so has cut down on our incidence of colds.

Obviously, if your hands are dirty, as in, caked with dirt, you need water, soap and scrubbing. But there is nothing magic about water! All soaps, by their nature, are somewhat anti-bacterial, but alcohol-based gels are more effective at killing germs that spread disease. Hospitals now recommend that doctors &quot;scrub&quot; with hand sanitizer before performing surgery, so I guess the stuff can handle Italian germs.

God, y'all are literal! The point is, be aware the flu is on the prowl. Be smart.

My oops! Didn't know Purell killed viruses. I defer to the Mayo Clinic.

Intrepid there are many people who need to wear a mask on a plane. Why would that freak you out?

I should be more up on this than I am - - but, Marcy - - aren't the studies on hand sensitizers primarily focused on the <i><b>spread</b></i> of pathogens from one <i><b>patient</b></i> to another? And in particular, the spread of bacteria (not so much viruses) that occur in hospitals or other places where unusual concentrations of particularly virulent or resistant organisms may pose a therat to persons with lowered (immune) resistance?

If the use of hand sensitizers had been clinically demonstrated to decrease the <i><b>acquisition</b></i> of common contagious (particularly viral) diseases, it seems like I would have heard about it - - that the companies would be marketing the hell out of any such studies - - and, heck, wouldn't we be bathing patients with the stuff?

Alcohol-based hand cleansers ARE undoubtedly an important alternative to traditional hand washing in intensive care units and other clinical settings, for the personnel taking care of those patients - - but if they have any protective value in the general public, it must be minuscule.

Best wishes,

Rex Bickers, M.D.
Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics

Rex-all I can tell you is what my internist told me, which is, USE HAND SANITIZERS RELIGIOUSLY. He said you really have a fighting chance to ward off the flu and other viral infections if you do (and in addition, don't touch your nose or face area with unclean hands). Hand washing is NOT a good alternative, because people don't wash long enough, and with hot enough water, and they're touching wet germ-filled surfaces, partic. in public restrooms.

Personally I would not travel anywhere or any time of the year without Purell in my pocket or travel bag. Use it liberally after handling those filthy hand rails in the Tube, Metro, etc. They are never cleaned! I also would not consume even a morsel of food without thoroughly washing my hands with S&amp;W. It must work as I rarely get a cold.

Rex, This is not my area of expertise, but it's my understanding that the although the FDA doesn't allow the makers of hand-sanitizers to make claims about their ability to kill viruses, there have been studies that have shown a reduction in the number of viral illness among people who have used them.

Alcohol has not been shown to be effective against ALL viruses, though-- it may not be effective against Hepatitis A and non-lipophilic viruses, for example.

In spite of this, the FDA does recommend the use of hand-sanitizers to the general public for the prevention of illness, including viral illnesses. (When handwashing is not possible)

See this, from an FDA newsletter:
&quot;Alcohol-Based Hand Wipes and
Gel Sanitizers Work Too.&quot;

http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/fdaandyou/issue05.pdf

The Center for Disease Control also advocates the use of hand sanitizers by the general public to prevent viral ilnesses:

&quot;You can help reduce the spread of flu if you:
Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers in your purse, car and backpack, when soap and water is not available.

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/toolkit/stori...oranything.htm

but didn't they also at one point say that anti-bacterial was killing too much bacteria and reducing the bodies defenses. or something like that.