According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread from person to person is by respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Andy Pekosz, PhD, associate professor in the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology offers some simple advice to reduce your risk for contracting or spreading the flu to others.
The CDC recommends washing your hands with soap and warm water for 15 to 20 seconds. One easy way to gauge that amount of time is to sing the "Happy Birthday" song to yourself twice. For more information, visit the CDC website.
Every Monday, the Johns Hopkins Healthy Monday Project, part of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future, offers tips for preventing disease and injury, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Check back each week for new tips or visit our archive.
