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This bit from CDC seems to imply that flu virus can be spread via the
hand touching an object that has been exposed to the virus:
 
====================
How does 2009 H1N1 virus spread? 
Spread of 2009 H1N1 virus is thought to occur in the same way that
seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to
person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes
people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or
object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
====================
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm
====================
 
I could be wrong but it sounds like they're suggesting that the flu
virus could be spread if visitor A has sneezed on their hand, then puts
that hand out to get hand stamped thus transferring the virus to either
the stamp or the staff doing the stamping, the virus could then
potentially be spread to Visitor B.  It does seem like staff are much
more at risk than other visitors, though.
 
The fix seems to become recluse, wash your hands often or to not touch
your nose (harder than it sounds).
 
 - Len
 
 

Len Adams
Health Promotion Specialist
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.
3629 South D Street, MS:315
Tacoma, WA 98418-6813
 
253 798-6129
 
Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is the wrong word. There
are no exceptions to this rule.
 
  - Stephen King

>>> Jonah Cohen <[log in to unmask]> 10/15/2009 6:47 AM
>>>
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************

OK, forgive me if my knowledge of virology is painfully lacking,
but...
Is there any possible reason anyone should be worried about getting
their hand stamped? And if not, isn't avoiding doing so just playing
to
paranoia + misinformation about the flu?

Yes, the stamp touched someone else's hand for a second. So what? If a
visitor considers that to be a health threat, what the heck are they
doing at a museum? Are they going to not touch any of the exhibits
(all
of which were touched by other people for a lot longer than a split
second)? Are they going to avoid opening any doors (at the museum, the
stores, schools, restaurants, town hall...) Or how do you know no one
else touched that box of cereal at the supermarket? Or...

It just seems to me that anyone who's concerned about getting their
hand
stamped should put themselves in a plastic bubble + get it over with.
Like I said, I could be wrong, and feel free to tell me so if I am,
but
this strikes me as a point where reasonable health/sanitary concerns
cross over into hysteria.

Rant over,
Jonah Cohen
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
The Children's Museum


"There's where I come from, where I'm going, and I am lost in
between."


-----Original Message-----
> Our usual procedure is to stamp hands as visitors enter, but with all

> the flu business, our visitors are growing concerned about this.

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