Contagion: Raising the Awareness of Germ Transmission
The film, Contagion, released on Friday, September 9th, has inspired heightened awareness of illnesses transmitted from person to person.
The movie graphically portrays the speed with which infectious disease can spread globally—and how government agencies and public health organizations respond to such a threat.
The story is both thrilling and effective in raising awareness of germ transmission. But while such an outbreak is possible, it’s important to remember that Contagion is fictional. There are common-sense safeguards that lower the risk of contracting and spreading contagious disease. When practicing the simple act of covering your mouth when sneezing or coughing, you can minimize the threat to others.
In addition to staying home when sick and distancing yourself from those with illness, the practice of good hand hygiene is one of the easiest preventive measures. Wash your hands regularly, especially after using the restroom, blowing your nose, riding public transportation or touching other public surfaces, and before eating.
When soap and water are not readily available, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer helps protect health and well-being by killing 99.99% of most common germs that might make people sick.
So enjoy the movie.
For further reading, we’re including links to trustworthy sources about the film and related topics of interest.