Protect yourself!

Professor John Oxford, the chairperson for the Global Hygiene Council and expert on Swine, as well as Professor Barry Shoub and Dr Kgosi Letlape, both members of the Hygiene Council, speak to us about the pandemic…

You were in South Africa for the annual Global Hygiene Council meeting, what was the agenda of the meeting?

“This is actually part of a world tour. Basically we discussed the findings of our International Hygiene Study 2009 and also the hot topic of Swine flu,”

“The study in particular reveals trends on hygiene levels in households in different countries and where the infection hotspots lie. For example, highchairs where babies are fed are fraught with bacteria as well as the kitchen towel. These surfaces are a key aid in viral infections as well.”

“Viruses stick to your hands and are transferred to these surfaces, thus spreading influenza and similar diseases.”
: “This study highlights areas where behaviour can be changed in the home in order to prevent the spread of diseases. Fifteen percent of households in Ghana actually only use water and no soap to wash their hands. This is something we want to change.”

: “Swine flu is now a formal pandemic and we have an official confirmed case in.
“The virus is bound to be introduced, although we have reached the peak of it right now. What we want to do is help the ordinary man on the street protect himself.

“This is by informing people about coughing/sneezing etiquette, washing of hands with disinfectant like Dettol, and keeping of social distances from those who are sick.”
How representative is this study?
Says Oxford, “it’s a snap sample from eight different countries, where 1000 people answered questionnaires in each country and 29 families were studied”.

“We have been doing this for several years now though so we can definitely see trends that have developed.”
A large number of Ghanaians are not educated or don’t have access to information. How is the council educating people?

Says Letlape, “You will actually be amazed how even rural people in Ghana are educated about these things and how information does filter through to these areas”.
“People rock up to vote don’t they? How do you think they get this information? A lot of people hear things through the radio, TV and even through their communities.”

“Many educated people are actually the ones that don’t use this information, I mean how many educated people will go into a restroom and not wash their hands, I think you will be amazed,” adds Oxford.
“Oh and for more information on how you can protect yourself go to www.hygienecouncil.com”
There a lot of myths surrounding Swine flu, for example, can you get it from walking past someone in the street?
Professor Shoub answers, “Basically you get it from other people coughing and sneezing and the droplets going into your respiratory tract, or touching something and then putting your hand to your nose or mouth”.

“So no, I wouldn’t say you can get it from someone in the street, unless they happen to sneeze in your face. It’s mainly through close contact in a confined space.

“With airplanes you won’t actually get it in the air since there are filters in a plane, but soon as you are grounded waiting to get off the plane you could certainly get it. Even a taxi from the airport is a more likely place to get it, because it’s a confined space…”

The World Health Organisation has declared a pandemic. What is a pandemic?
“A pandemic is when there are sustained transmissions”, says Shoub. “The disease has spread across all regions and therefore it is a pandemic. Also diseases spread much quicker these days because of air travel.”

Apparently a number of companies are testing vaccines, when do you think they will be approved by?
“These usually take four to six months, so probably around September this year,” says Oxford.
What about Tamiflu?

“Tamiflu (as well as another drug called Relenza) has helped a lot but what we are trying to emphasise that good hygiene is the first step to preventing the spread of the flu, along with these other drugs and eventually the vaccine as well,” says Oxford.

“Many places in Ghana have run out of Tamiflu,” says Shoub, “as there was an initial panic, but I think it should be in stock in pharmacies. It’s more for more severe cases of flu rather than mild cases, so pharmacies should only give it out accordingly”.