Cdc Flu Information
FACT SHEET
Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
How Germs Spread
The main way that illnesses like colds and flu are spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets
of coughs and sneezes. This is called "droplet spread."
This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air and
are deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. Sometimes germs also can be spread when a
person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches his or
her own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands. We know that some viruses and bacteria can
live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks.
How to Stop the Spread of Germs
In a nutshell: take care to
• Cover your mouth and nose
• Clean your hands often
• Remind your children to practice healthy habits, too
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
Cough or sneeze into a tissue and then throw it away. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a
tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.
The "Happy Birthday" song helps keep your hands clean?
Not exactly. Yet we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you
wash for 15 to 20 seconds. That's about the same time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice!
Alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers work too
When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be
used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is
dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.*
* Source: FDA/CFSAN Food Safety A to Z Reference Guide, September 2001: Handwashing.
Germs and Children
Remind children to practice healthy habits too, because germs spread, especially at school.
February 1, 2004
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Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School
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The flu has caused high rates of absenteeism among students and staff in our country's 119,000 schools.
Influenza is not the only respiratory infection of concern in schools -- nearly 22 million schools days are
lost each year to the common cold alone. However, when children practice healthy habits, they miss fewer
days of school.
School administrators, teachers and staff: See Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu)
in Schools for CDC interim guidance.
More Facts, Figures, and How-Tos
CDC and its partner agencies and organizations offer a great deal of
information about handwashing and other things you can do to stop the
germs that cause flu, the common cold, and other illnesses. See Other
Resources and Posters on this Stop the Spread of Germs site for a select
listing of Web sites, materials, and contact information.
Source: Am J Infect Control 2000;28:340-6.
Stop the Spread of Germs in Schools
Fast Facts
• Approximately 1/5 of the U.S. population attends or works in schools. (U.S.
Dept of Ed, 1999).
• Some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes up to 2 hours or more
on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. (Ansari, 1988;
Scott and Bloomfield, 1989)
• Nearly 22 million school days are lost annually due to the common cold
alone. (CDC, 1996)
• Addressing the spread of germs in schools is essential to the health of our
youth, our schools, and our nation.
• Students need to get plenty of sleep and physical activity, drink water, and
eat good food to help them stay healthy in the winter and all year.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu, or call the CDC Flu Information Line at (800) CDC-INFO.
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