Category Archives: Science

Now this might seem like an obvious article to write about and one that at first glance does not have anything to do with zombies. But if I may draw your attention to the fact that if you’re the type of person who thinks a little too much about the zombie apocalypse and all the creative ways in which you plan on taking down zombies, then you really should know the basics when it comes to avoiding all types of viral outbreak in order to even start to become one of the few survivors of the zombie apocalypse. This article might be about the prevention of flu, but given the fact that it is a constantly mutating virus with new variations being discovered every year it seems reasonable that if you know how to avoid catching it you’ll stand a much better chance of also avoiding any other virus outbreaks (zombie or otherwise). Be prepared for the flu and you’re more likely to be prepared for more menacing viruses.

Kids don’t cough or sneeze into their hands anymore. It’s simply not done, and it’s easy to see why. Coughing or sneezing directly into a hand that subsequently touches food, money or other people is clearly a recipe for contagion. The real wonder is that people failed for so many years to spot this simple truth. A typical sneeze can travel 100 m.p.h. and spew countless germs into the air. One study found that viruses can survive much longer on objects like dollar bills than originally thought, particularly when found in high concentrations like those from a single sneeze.

With a flu epidemic under way, adults can still be seen all over the city spraying their potentially contagious droplets on subway seats and restaurant menus. Hospitals are beginning to require masks for people who show up sick to ERs. Seasonal flu kills thousands each year, according to the CDC, and leaves many hundreds of thousands more temporarily incapacitated and unable to work, yet adults who disregard the basics of virus prevention seem to have the hubris to believe they aren’t susceptible to illness and thus can’t harm others.

In short, don’t touch your face too much, careful when opening doors, don’t use hand rails, and sneeze and cough into your elbow not your hands.

Read more on this over on the Time website which also has an interesting video on the flu and how it spreads.