A method that is ineffective in preventing influenza and colds · What is an effective prevention method?

ByGerolf Nikolay

In winter, the temperature drops and it becomes easy to lose physical condition. In addition, as the air dries, the activity of the virus becomes active and influenza will become popular. In order not to get sick, various countermeasures such as "Washing hands well", "Wearing masks", etc. are taken, but some of them are expected to have an effective effect, and conversely, those that have no effect at all And so on are mixed. In fact how do we spread the disease such as influenza, and how to do it not to get sick? Smithonian Institute operated Smithonian.com has articles on six points outlined.

Trying Not to Get Sick? Science Says You're Probably Doing It Wrong | Science | Smithsonian
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/theres-more-to-fighting-flu-covering-your-mouth-180961404/

◆ 1. Influenza is contagious even by breathing, as well as conversation and sneeze
Although it is widely known that "a cold will get sneezy" is actually widely known, even if you talk to the other person or even breathe normally, the influenza virus will splash and spread to others You may. By respiration, very fine scattered materials are discharged from the human body, but it was announced in 2013paperIt is also clear that this scattered material contains 8.8 times as many viruses as the scattering caused by sneezing.

Also, in addition to creating conversations, scattered objects are produced, and when the tension goes up and you quarrel, the amount of scattered material increases by 50 times and leads to the spreading of pathogens. Avoiding intense quarrels in winter may be important to avoid disease.


◆ 2. Mask is not very effective
Although it is becoming widely known in Japan, this is not to wear masks to keep them from getting sick, but to use those who have pathogens to prevent scattering, the original purpose is. Since the size of influenza virus is only 1 / 1,000 of 1 mm, and even 1 / 1,000, it passes easily through the mesh of the mask. The role played by the mask is to prevent the virus from diffusing by stopping the scattering matter as described above. If a person with a pathogen is nearby and you have not taken any measures such as a mask, you can hardly expect the defense effect as much as you wear a mask. However, on the other hand, it is a moisturizing effect by attaching a mask, which leads to prevention of invasion of virus from the mucosa.


◆ 3. The virus can not be moved to the extent that it holds your hand
As a method to prevent colds, washing hands and washing off pathogens is considered to have a certain effect. However, it has no effect on influenza virus. According to Professor John Schwarzburg of the University of California, Berkeley, influenza virus is taken in by touching the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth, so there is little involvement of hand involvement there.


◆ 4. Things sick people touched are dangerous
In the preceding paragraph, it was mentioned about the virus, but on the other hand, the pathogen that is the cause of the cold can be contacted by hand or infectious via mono. If a person with a pathogen touches something, the virus continues to exist for up to 72 hours on that object(PDF)research resultHas been announced. It is also known that pathogens of cold and influenza will stay longer on the surface of hard objects like metal than on soft materials such as leather.


◆ 5. It is not good to take Vitamin C
There is certain effect in the measure "try to take a lot of vitamin C to avoid a cold." However, this does not mean that the higher the amount of vitamin C, the higher the immunity. There is an upper limit on the amount of vitamin C acting on the human body, vitamin C taken in more than that is discharged outside the body without being used. Therefore, when taking vitamin C, the idea of ​​"trying to take too much so as not to run short" is appropriate.


◆ 6. Expect for "universal vaccine"
The influenza vaccine is produced by predicting the type of virus prevalent in that year based on epidemic data in the southern hemisphere. Therefore, depending on the year, it can be enough that the prediction goes out and the trend spreads out. However, currently, a "universal type" vaccine that works for several types of viruses has also been developed, and the development of a vaccine effective for viruses of 95% of viruses prevalent in the United States and 88% worldwideplanIt is said that the effectiveness of the vaccine can be expected to further increase as production starts in the future.