On the subject of infection control, have just returned from a cruise and the level of unfettered coughing, snorting and sneezing we encountered on the various 'planes, ships, boats and coaches we travelled in was really grim.
No one appeared to bother covering their mouth - no one. Disgusting.
One good thing I noticed on the cruise ship was the signs in the public toilets exhorting people to use a paper towel when exiting to avoid undoing all the good work of washing their hands by picking something up off the door handle on the way out.
This made me re-evaluate public loos.
I think there should always be paper towels where one needs to touch a door handle to exit, but this isn't always the case. Some facilities only provide warm air hand driers. I find myself going through all sorts of contortions to get a suitable bit of clothing to protect my hand from the door handle on the way out.
Another key area for transmission in my view is doctors' surgeries which have touch screens for people to log their arrival. Unless someone is standing there with an alcohol wipe to clean the screen between patients, I don't see how passing on infection isn't likely.
cuffem - that article on 'plane surfaces made sobering reading but makes perfect sense. I think the only thing to do is always carry alcohol wipes and hand gel, although that will not kill everything, so washing hands in hot soapy water is also important (where possible).
