How to protect against disease

This year has been all about viruses and how to best protect society from their spread. Unfortunately, germs are everywhere – in the air, on food, in water and also on all surfaces, including the body!

The majority of these germs though are harmless, and the human immune system is great at fighting off any it doesn’t like the look of. However, some germs mutate and learn how to breach the body’s immune system.

All is not lost though, as there are many ways to protect yourself against these invisible threats. The best method is prevention.

Hand-washing – This is one of the simplest and quickest ways to protect from most infections. Hands should be washed before preparing and eating food, after a sneeze or cough and after going to the toilet.

Face Masks – These are increasingly being worn to protect against both the contraction and spreading of viruses that can travel through droplets in the air from a cough, sneeze or breathing. Find out more about a Respilion Manufacturer at a site like Respitech, suppliers of Respilion Manufacturer masks.

Medicine – There are some medications that offer short term protection from germs, for example an anti-malarial medicine to protect from parasites.

Vaccines – This is the most effective defence against specific diseases.

Viruses – Protecting against viruses is tougher as they are microscopic and can’t be treated with antibiotics. They are much smaller than bacteria cells and can attack the cells in the body, reproducing and destroying those cells. Examples of viruses include SARS, Ebola, Influenza, Measles, Chickenpox and the common cold.