It’s Halloween today and the weather forecast for Lincoln, Nebraska is wonderful – 72 and sunny!  How nice for trick-or-treaters – especially the little ones!   This year those coming to my door for a “treat” will get a nanobugs temporary tattoo of influenza and a message to Say, Boo! To the Flu.  The influenza nanobug is pretty scary – it’s intended to be.  The one-liner for this nanobug is “it gives me a kick to make you sick”.  And that quote is intended to make influenza one of the nanobugs we “love to hate” and drive home the point that influenza is not a common cold and should be avoided especially by the elderly, children and those (young and old) with chronic illness. For most of us – the flu is just an annoyance and a spoiler of productivity and learning when it hits.  But for these groups, it can be down-right scary!  

The Say, “Boo!” to the Flu campaign is loaded with information for parents and children.  Explore the website:  http://www.sayboototheflu.com/

How ‘bout you?  Are you planning to say, “Boo” to the Flu with a vaccination?

I’ve got a free tattoo for you if you do.  (Just send me your name and mailing address as a comment – and don’t worry, I won’t publish your info here or sell it to anyone.)

This is one of those national recognition “weeks”.  This week the world will focus attention on the prevention of infection.  This recognition began in 1986 when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the 3^rd week in October as Infection Control Week as the result of ambitious efforts of APIC (the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention and Control).  APIC is now an international organization with >10,000 members and this e recognition has evolved into International Infection Prevention Week.  Goodness knows, this is a goal worthy of the world’s attention.

So what does one do to “celebrate” this week?  Your first response is probably, “wash my hands”. That is good idea but it’s not a behavior you should save for this annual celebration/recognition!  More appropriately, your participation should include a system or mechanism for teaching and reminding everyone in the home, school, or workplace about the importance of infection prevention and especially hand hygiene.  Health care institutions are always ambitious in reinforcing the infection prevention message in very specific ways in order to help in our eternal campaign to prevent HAI’s (healthcare associated infections). 

This year let’s carry the message deep into the global communities to recommend and encourage appropriate behaviors for people in their homes, dormitories, locker rooms, and in workplaces of all kinds.  

I will focus my blogs this week on a variety of topics and tips related to this goal.  In the process, some of the nanobugs will be shamed and others will be recognized for their positive contribution to this important mission of infection prevention.  Please join Nanobugs, inc. and infection preventionists all over the world in giving infection prevention your attention this week.