Touchscreens Breeding Ground for Flu Germs

Thursday, 14 October 2010 | by Pat's Picks

Talk about going viral says the Sacramento Bee. According to experts, fiddling with a friend’s touchscreen is a surefire way to pass flu germs along. Research has shown that screens on mobile devices have 18 percent more germs than the handle on a toilet does. The best policy checking something out on someone else’s screen? Look but don’t touch.

Timothy Julian’s doctoral study is due to be published in July in the Journal of Applied Microbiology.

Last year, a British study (with a very small sample) raised similar concerns about mobile phone cleanliness. The Daily Mail reported the bacteria count on some phones was 10 times the acceptable level.

If we’ve know totally freaked you out, here‘s a good list of the 10 dirtiest things in your house and advice for how to clean them.

Okay, you’re still with us. If this guy’s eye gesticulations don’t freak you out, his dissection of the germs in your house will: