How to Stop a Virus From Spreading

No one likes being sick, and it can be equally miserable – if not worse – if your kiddos are sick too. Plus it seems like every cold and flu season gets worse with one superbug announcement after another. It’s enough to make anyone ask – how do we stop this madness?!

Here are some ways to increase your odds of beating the crud and to help protect yourself and others.

Soap, water, repeat

The spreading of any sort of virus begins and ends with hand washing (or lack thereof).

And yes we know – that sounds ridiculously obvious, right? It’s no secret that washing your hands is important. But you’d be surprised by how many people skimp when it comes down to this habit. (One study found that only 5% of people wash their hands properly!)

“The way that viruses transfer from person to person and place to place isn’t usually because you got coughed on by someone who’s sick,” explains pediatric infectious disease expert Frank Esper, MD. “Instead, someone usually coughs on their hands and goes on to touch something. Then someone else touches that thing with their hands and their hands end up in their mouth – along with the virus.”

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself during cold and flu season (and really anytime of the year) is to break the transmission cycle by routinely washing your hands.

Also remember that any virus you might already have has the potential to spread to others in the same fashion. So washing your hands every time you cough, or every time that you’re interacting with someone, preferably before you interact with them, is the best thing that you can do.

It’s one of the reasons why doctors always wash their hands before they see a patient and again right afterwards, Dr. Esper says.

Does the hand washing rule apply with RSV and children too?

Good hand hygiene is incredibly important when it comes to babies and small children too, especially when it comes to helping prevent the spread of RSV.

But often times the average two-year-old can’t wash their hands very well – let alone have the coordination or attention span for it. This is where the introduction of alcohol-based rubs, especially for the younger age groups, works well.

It’s also important to understand the impact of hand washing for those around young children.

“When your child is home from school with a runny nose or cough, a lot of times the grandparents or other family members will come over to watch them,” says Dr. Esper. “It’s very important to make sure that everyone who is interacting with the kids knows to wash their hands.”

It’s also a good idea to talk to children about not touching their noses or rubbing their eyes. Most of the time it’s still going to be typical two-year-old behavior –but it helps to start educating them about it when they’re young.

How to avoid getting sick

If you’re still trying to tough out cold and flu season without becoming a victim (or looking for tips on not getting sick again), follow these guidelines:

• Start with a strong offense – always get your flu shot. (Yes, every single year.)
• Be diligent about washing your hands throughout the day.
• Wear a face mask or N95 respirator.
• Don’t touch your face! Keep your hands out of your eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
• Always carry hand sanitizer with you. (Place it around your home or office for convenience.)
• Focus on good nutrition to help boost your immunity.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get enough sleep.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Try a humidifier.
• Stay home when you’re sick or keep your kids at home if they’re sick.
• Practice stress management.
• Know when to see a doctor.

Also be sure to tread carefully when it comes to guzzling down vitamin C drinks and pills. The jury is still out whether or not these products can actually help you kick a cold or flu faster.