Fwd: HANDSHAKES AND HUGS IN JEOPARDY?

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ralippin <ralippinOctober 18, 2009 5:23:03 AM HSTHANDSHAKES AND HUGS IN JEOPARDY? Friends, It appears that handshakes, hugs and other conventional social interactions have become the latest victim of H1N1 hysteria. Even the practice of taking holy communion in Catholic churches is changing. So far this virus, while widespread, has not shown itself to be very lethal. The mortality rates are still very low. Would I, as a public health doctor, agree with social distancing, widespread mask wearing,quarantine or isolation if necessary? Of course But at this point we should be very far from implementing these interventions on any widespread basis. I wrote an essay on the hand washing advice taken to irrational excess on my blog see- http://medicalcrises.blogspot.com (Scroll to March 2008 in archives) My advice? Be reasonable with your precautions at this point. Think about the PROVEN health benefit and pleasure of human touch. If the flu becomes more lethal escalate your protections accordingly Dr. Rick Lippin Southampton,Pa =====In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.