London - October 14, 2011
Doctors in Britain have a new health warning for cellphone users. They say phones across the country are harboring dangerous E. coli bacteria.
"It means, unfortunately, people are going to the toilet, their hands are getting contaminated and they're not washing their hands with soap," said Dr. Val Curtis of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Researchers studied 400 people in 12 British cities, taking samples from their hands and cellphones. They found fecal bacteria on one in six phones, even though 95 percent of Brits questioned claimed they always wash their hands with soap after using the bathroom.
While researchers used cellphones in their study, they say the same germs can fester on other everyday objects, especially the ones people share.
"It's public health problem number one. It's the most dangerous substance on the planet," Curtis said.
Researchers timed their study with Global Handwashing Day. The campaign aims to make handwashing an automatic habit. Doctors say always use soap and the longer you wash the better, but the first 30 seconds will kill most of the bugs. Hand sanitizer is an option, but doctors say soap and water are still best.
