Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers and Viruses

Prevent infection by the flu through proper hand washing with anti-microbial soap and water and use an N95 respirator mask. Do NOT make the mistake of thinking that an alcohol-based hand sanitizer protects you to any specific degree over washing for at least 30 seconds with soap and water. These waterless hand sanitizers are meant to kill GERMS not VIRUSES! A quote directly from a manufacturer of a popular alcohol-based hand sanitizer states :


"While no hand sanitizer is indicated to prevent Swine Flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the ways you can help protect yourself from Swine Flu is by practicing good hand hygiene. Specific CDC recommendations include keeping your hands clean by washing with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water may not be available, such as when you're on the go." Source



You're even better off using plain soap and water over the so-called anti-microbial hand soaps, I'll be posting clinical data on that as well.

BTW, my initial email to the CDC posing the direct question about hand sanitizers was responded to in such a way as to completely skirt the question and pat me on the head, so I went to the manufacturers and found the answer, they DON'T specifically protect you against VIRUSES!

Now...if I can convince FOX NEWS to stop spewing the 'hand sanitizer' garbage...I'll have made some progress!

alcohol should be ok killing any virus on surface

where did you read that alcohol does not kill viruses???

I've never trusted the notion that alcohol is a good way to kill "bugs", especially for those who need to apply often during the day.

It seems to me that the dryness the alcohol causes is more potentially harmful. Dry skin is more vulnerable to cracks and breaks and is not optimally healthy.

I want to do some research into the natural hand sanitizers, see if they are more effective without damaging the skin.

Thanks for the topic and the research

I've had hibiclens/hibistat in my house for as long as i can remember...good hand wash product and can be used for alot of other things.Probably one of the best you can buy.

two quick things.
1. it was taught to me that if you don't have soap just wash your hands as long as it takes to sing "happy birthday",
2. in the war against bacteria, viruses, etc, unless it is TOTALLY eradicated then the survivors pass on the resistant traits growing a stronger & stronger bacteria, virus, etc.

The vacines you took when you were young will not protect you now. Smallpox, TB, Measles, Plague are still out there and man wants to merge them together to make them stronger.
Chi·mae·ra: An organism, organ, or part consisting of two or more tissues of different genetic composition, produced as a result of organ transplant, grafting, or genetic engineering.

Stuff around us: A product derived of argot, that's bread mold to you, causes a reaction called Saint Vitus' Dance. Think of it as '___'. Psychotropic, hallucinogenic, very effective. There is a nasty little microbe that is found in sink drains world-wide, very rarely kills anyone despite that, most people don't eat food they pick out of the sink drain. However, if it is cultured by an expert and then stuck into someone's thigh, it will spread through the bloodstream rather fast but it's not going to kill you for three or four days. Botulinus toxin. A rather swelled tin of meat may have it. Botulinus is nasty. A teaspoon would kill a city. That's our normal run of the mill stuff found anywhere.