Whoo hoo! It's January! Time to roll out those resolutions. Out with the old -- in with the new. You have a fresh start -- a clean slate! What else? It's time for flu season!
Hear that coughing in your office? Hear the sneezing? Those are the clues. Let's run down the drill: If you didn't get a flu shot, there's still time for you to get one. Flu can be spread by droplets when others cough or sneeze. You can also pick up the flu from objects in the office that have been handled by others who are sick. Get out the disinfectant disposable wipes and swipe your phone, door handles, counters, copy machines, etc. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Be courteous toward others. Stay at home if you're sick. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use tissues. Throw tissues in the trash after you use them. Wash your hands. Use soap and water. Good. You're covered, right? Maybe.
Here's something you may not know -- the money you're carrying around is probably contaminated. What? Ugh. You've got to be kidding. Nope. I'm not kidding.
Here are the facts according to CreditNet:
42% of bills have Staphylococcus aureus on them -- a nasty staph infection-causing bacterium
7% of all bills have E Coli bacteria on them
Rhinovirus is commonly found on currency and responsible for 1/3 of all common colds
BPA - this chemical carcinogen is found on over half of all notes. Bisphenol A is a hormone disrupting chemical
30% of US currency is contaminated with fecal bacteria
92% of all notes have traces of cocaine on them
Whoa. Those are some very interesting statistics, aren't they?
This morning I went to my local gas station and filled up my car. I walked in to find the gas station owner sneezing. He didn't cover his mouth. He just sneezed -- big time -- twice. I said, "God bless you." He said, "Thank you." I gave him my money and he gave me change. As I walked out and got into my car -- my paranoia kicked in. My thought was that I'll probably wind up getting the crud. The crud from his big sneezes was on his hands and now -- it's on the bills I just put in my wallet. Great.
So, can you catch the flu from money? Here's what the folks at Smart Money have to say about that: It doesn't get talked about much, but the fact is paper currency -- the dollars, fives, tens and twenties most people routinely touch every day -- can spread a virus from one person to another.
Need more? According to the Consumer Report Money Blog, paper currency has been deemed a good candidate for spreading swine flu.
Some of the articles I've read suggested you could use credit cards instead of money. Uh huh. Could it be that those articles are connected to the folks who would benefit from that? A conspiracy? I don't know.
Is there anything besides using credit cards that might help you to avoid catching something from the filthy money? Get all wound up with paranoia? Nah. Best advice out there? Pretty simple. Don't worry about it. If you do, you'll make yourself crazy. Frequent hand-washing with soap and water is still the best way to prevent infections and disease.
Time to buy some more soap. Time to wash my hands.
