London, Jan 14: The next time you greet a person, make sure you avoid shaking hands. Instead give a peck on his or her cheek - it’s healthier for you.
A team of international researchers has carried out a study and found that people who greet each other with handshakes are much more likely to pass on germs, such as flu and stomach bugs, than those who settle for a kiss.
According to lead researcher Prof Sally Bloomfield of the London School of Hygiene, “The hands are critical in the chain of infection as they transmit infections from surfaces to people and between people.
"Shaking hands is the main form of physical contact with each other but you don’t know what the other person has been touching before you greet them. People avoid kissing each other when they have a cold, but in fact they are more likely to pass on an infection by shaking someone’s hand."
In fact, the researchers, whose study has been funded by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene, came to the conclusion after analysing the effects of handshakes and kisses on a group of people, according to media reports.
According to co-researcher Carol O’Boyle of the School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, "Hand hygiene is just as important when we are outside the home - on public transport, in the office, in the supermarket, or in a restaurant. Quite often it is not possible to wash our hands in these situations, but carrying an alcohol-based hand sanitiser means we can make our hands hygienic whenever and wherever the need arises."
However, the study has pointed out that good hygiene is about more than just washing our hands.
Although the hands are the main superhighway for the spread of germs - as they are the “last line of defence”, surfaces from which the hands become contaminated, such as food contact surfaces, door handles, tap handles and toilet seats.
