SUMMARY: The H1N1 pandemic has given rise to exaggerated claims of efficacy by some product manufacturers. In recent school testing, three popular brands of hand sanitizer killed between 46 and 60 percent of microbes on students' hands, far short of the 99.99 percent claimed. The more germs that remain, the greater the chance of that particular infection, doctors say.
STORY LINK: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126092257189692937.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_RIGHTTopCarousel
ANALYSIS:
The potential for disaster thrives at the intersection of aggressive marketing and the desire for a quick and painless solution. There is an unfortunate tendency to seek a “silver bullet” resolution, and a hand sanitizer claiming near perfect results can certainly lie within that realm. While more germs increase the chance of infection, fewer germs would decrease that chance. The important message here is that no single action can prevent influenza, but rather a combination of immunization, sound diet, personal hygiene, illness etiquette (cough, sneeze, etc.), and social distancing when appropriate will vastly reduce the odds of infection.
Recent days also saw the release of the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) seventh annual report card on the nation's public health preparedness as well as commentaries in the journals Homeland Security Today and the Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine regarding the state of emergency preparedness and disease surveillance. While actions taken to date and good fortune have minimized the impact of the H1N1 pandemic, the disease has also highlighted the gaps in our ability to respond to a catastrophic disaster. Honest self-assessment is needed at the international, national, local, and individual levels. The most poignant definition I have heard for the term “major surgery” was “any surgery that involves me.” This applies to the broader spectrum of risk and disaster. Do you have a plan? Are you ready for the unthinkable? A considered, pragmatic approach can mean the difference between rapid recovery and catastrophic failure for your family, your business, and your community. The time for preparation is now.