New Global Survey Finds Better Awareness of Hygiene

UAE results show that many fall short on practicing good hygiene in daily lives

Dubai, U.A.E, September 18 - An increasing number of people are aware of the importance of good hygiene in their daily lives, yet many admit they don't always follow through with tasks such as hand washing after using the toilet. These results are part of a global study of more than 8,000 consumers released today as part of a large-scale initiative led by the newly formed Hygiene Council.

Results from the UAE study found that when asked about the most effective way to prevent the spread of germs in the home, 48% of the 1000 people surveyed replied that they would surface disinfect on a regular basis. 32% said they would wash their hands regularly and 10% said they would prevent animals from entering the home. 11% said they would avoid kissing or having close physical contact with family and friends.

When asked to comment about the measures they would adopt to help protect against flu, 42% said they would wash their hands regularly, 29% said they would avoid eating or being near animals, and 18% said they would avoid tourist places in their own country. 11% said they would avoid travelling abroad.

Asked where they thought children were most likely to catch an infection, 55% of respondents said at their nursery or playground. 25% said on public transport and 19% said at home or whilst visiting friends or relatives.

Asked to say where they thought germs were within the house, 50% said around the toilet basin and 16% said on kitchen surfaces. 16% also said on door handles and 19% thought on their hands.

Asked if they tended to take short cuts and not wash their hands properly, 6% admitted not doing so having been to the toilet. 36% reported not doing so before eating or handling food.

The Hygiene Council is kicking off the initiative to better inform the public that the best weapon in the fight against the spread of infections such as avian influenza or SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) is good hygiene. The council is made up of some of the world's top experts in areas such as virology, microbiology and infectious disease. Chairing the council is Professor John Oxford, a recognized expert in the field and Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry.

"We come from a world of infection, we live in a world of infection and, in the future, unless we take control of infection now, we will continue to live in a world of infection," said Professor Oxford.

As part of this new global initiative, the Hygiene Council recently held its first meeting and issued a number of findings, as well as a booklet designed to help educate consumers about how simple, daily tasks such as washing hands and disinfecting surfaces can dramatically reduce the risk of infections. 'Good Hygiene in Practice: Protecting the family in the home and community' is available from +971 (0) 4 881 8266 (Reckitt Benckiser Arabia FZE).

Global Findings

The global survey was conducted as part of the Hygiene Council's initiative 'Hygiene for the 21^st Century' and involved the survey of more than 8,000 people in eight countries around the globe. The surveyors asked people key questions about their understanding of how infectious diseases are transmitted along with getting some ideas about daily hygiene habits.

One plus side to the recent blitz of media coverage about avian 'flu and the like is that an overwhelming majority of people are most definitely aware of the importance of good hygiene. The awareness numbers are even higher in those 18 and under.

While the results show most people know about the need for good hygiene, many were unaware that they could encounter more bacteria in their homes then in public places! In fact, consumers in most countries placed their risk of infection at its lowest at home and at its highest in public places. Collected data actually shows that there is a higher risk of outbreaks associated with households, particularly related to food-borne illnesses.

Wash Your Hands!

The Hygiene Council findings show that our standard of good hygiene peaked just prior to World War II and then started to decline with the arrival of antibiotics. The group's conclusion? Now is the time to place greater emphasis on good hygiene practice and simple, effective tools such as regular hand washing, proper cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects that get regular, human contact.

"Clean hands can be the most powerful weapon on earth for defeating infection," according to Professor Tierno, Director Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, New York University Medical Centre in the US.

The work of the Hygiene Council and the Hygiene for the 21^st Century initiative is funded through an educational grant from Reckitt Benckiser, a global leader in the manufacturing of disinfectant

products. Their products are proven to kill a wide range of micro-organisms, including many found in the home such as those that cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

-Ends-

Note to editors:
Hygiene Council Members:
Professor John Oxford, Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew's & The Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry

Professor Philip M. Tierno, Director Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Associate Professor, Departments of Microbiology and Pathology, New York University Medical Centre, USA

Professor Barry D. Schoub, Executive Director, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg South Africa

Dr. Sandip K. Ray, Secretary General, Indian Public Health Association, India

Dr Christopher Lee, Consultant Physician Infectious Diseases, Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, Malaysia

Prof Martin Exner, Managing Director, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn, Germany

Professor Carlo Signorelli, Professor of Hygiene, University of Parma, General Secretary of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Italy

Professor Tariq Ahmed Madani, Associate Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Joe Rubino, Director Shared Services, R&D Laboratories, Reckitt Benckiser

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