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Sarah Dallof reporting Influenza cases in 49 states, including Utah, are considered "widespread" right now, and there's a handful of other nasty bugs going around that should have you on alert. Today, Ogden students learned how to better prevent the spread of germs.
To see the germs on an average hand, look no further than a black light. Health students at Ogden High are doing a hand-washing exercise. They rub special lotion on their hands, wash, then go to the black light to see how good their hand washing really is.
"It puts, like, fake germs on there so we can see how many germs might really be there," explained Larry Stein, Ogden High School student.
Classmate Caroline Kunz said, "I'm slightly paranoid with this now. I'm just like, ‘Ew!'"
In close quarters, like a high school, real germs spread easily, resulting in missed days and miserable students. "Nonstop head pressure, sinus headaches, congestion; just horrible," Stein said.
According to the Utah Department of Health, cases like that could be worse. "This is in a broader historical scale, not a terrible season, but it's worse than we've had for the past couple of years," explained Dr. Robert Rolfs, with the Utah Department of Health.
But with more than 200 hospitalizations it's important to take precautions. "There's still time to get a vaccine, but it would have been better earlier," Rolfs said.
Covering your mouth with the crook of your arm when you cough and sneeze and, of course, washing your hands both help.
The new hand-washing experts at Ogden High say you should lather up, being sure to scrub your fingernails and wrists. They also say time matters. The students sing their school song, all verses, in their heads while they wash. We can just sing the ABCs twice.
