If you’re one of those people who worries about catching the latest super virus, eating the wrong foods, breathing in the wrong air, doing the wrong sort of exercise and so on, you probably shouldn’t read on…
This latest research will have you squirming in your seat and spending the rest of your life wearing clinical gloves.
The BBC reported this week on a study that has highlighted just how many germs we can catch from touchscreens such as phones, computers, self checkouts at the supermarket, hospital and doctor check-in screens and so on.
Microbiologists at the University of Arizona carried out the study to establish the best way of keeping our screens clean and free from bugs.
Prof Charles Gerba told the BBC: “We have traced the spread of MRSA skin infection among teenagers that shared a cell phone. You will find MRSA on touchscreens on self-checkout screens in grocery stores in the US.
“For viruses it can take as little one to make you ill, but this varies a lot depending on the organisms. Some bacteria take 100,000 cells to cause illness, others a few hundred. It just depends if you come across the right organisms at the right time.”
Don’t worry, a solution may be on the way. A Japanese company called Toray has developed a screen material that it believes can repel around half of the oil and other residues found on fingers.
Gorilla Glass, which is used on many touchscreens is also expected to include an antibacterial coating in the future that will kill off many germs.
In the meantime, just watch out who you share your phone with!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23133453