“It’s a small world, after all….”

Walt Disney Productions was certainly correct when they came up with these lyrics.  One glance at today’s headlines, or tuning in to your favorite news program, will confirm this notion.  Look how easily a tiny virus has spread from Western Africa to Texas and what a pandemonium it has caused.

It is times like this that awaken the microbiologist in me, encouraging me to delve into that college degree and explore the in’s and out’s of Ebola transmission.  The end result of this has been a heightened awareness on my part of viruses in general and more specifically, the common cold.  Being that St. Louis has recently experienced Mother Nature’s mood swings, which have taken our temperatures from the upper 40s to the mid-’80s within two weeks’ time, our population is primed for sickness.  

Much like Ebola, the common cold is merely caused by a virus, with no cure and no vaccine. Known in the medical world as the Rhinovirus family, the easiest mode of transmission is direct person-to-person contact, or via large-particle aerosols. Sound familiar so far? In terms of an incubation period, however, the two illnesses begin to take divergent paths; from the time a cold virus enters the nose, 8-12 hours are all that is required for the viral reproductive cycle to be completed and for new cold virus particles to be released in nasal secretions. Cold symptoms can also begin shortly after the virus is first produced in the nose (10-12 hours). The time from the beginning of the infection to the peak of symptoms typically spans 36-72 hours.   Unfortunately, individuals can be contagious even before displaying any symptoms.

We never know the health status of the person whose fingers just tapped the keys on the ATM machine from which we’re about to withdraw cash, or who may have just used the cinnamon shaker at the local Starbuck’s. Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to take the necessary steps this season to keep ourselves as healthy as possible. Clearly, virus germs — Ebola, Rhinoviruses and no doubt plenty others — lurk in the most unsuspecting of places.  Experts suggest the following 5 tips for prevention of the common cold:

Wash Your Hands

This is the single most important way to halt the spread of colds. According to the CDC, about 80 percent of infectious diseases are spread by touch.  When washing, do a thorough job: Use soap and water, and scrub for a minimum of 20 seconds. 

Cover Your Nose and Mouth

Rather than cover our mouths and noses with our hands when we sneeze or cough, use the crook of the elbow — or a tissue. In this manner, the cold germs won’t be on the hands, from which they can easily be spread.

Disinfect

Cold germs can live on surfaces for hours. Use a disinfecting spray or wipe on high-traffic surfaces such as tabletops, doorknobs, remote controls and toys.

Go Disposable

I try to be as “green” as the next person, but the truth is that colds are easily spread by shared towels and cups in the bathroom. When someone in the house is sick, consider switching to paper products for a week. Then, be sure to empty the trash basket often, and spray it with disinfectant too.

Self-Care

There is some strong evidence to support that practices such as healthy nutrition, getting enough sleep, exercising, and reducing stress might help keep the immune system strong — and therefore more capable of fighting off a cold virus.  It certainly can’t hurt!

Rather than live in constant fear of the germs that inhabit our world, empower yourself this season and be ready to tackle the common cold before it tackles you. As always, share your abundant blessings and gifts with friends and loved ones, by all means…but not those nasty virus germs!