Sneeze sense on nose Use elbows not hands to avoid flu, say experts

THE way Australians are taught to sneeze may have fuelled the spread of deadly influenza across the country, with calls for people to be taught to sneeze like Americans – into their elbows.

As Queensland is smashed by influenza, experts have warned that sick people are ignoring “influenza etiquette” and sneezing into hands or handkerchiefs.

The Australian Medical Association warned people have become complacent about the dangers of influenza and better public education on vaccination and hygiene is needed.

University of Sydney Associate Professor Guy Eslick said Australians needed to stop sneezing the wrong way and adopt the “elbow- sneeze” like Americans.

“People are not seeing enough advertising campaigns in front of them about how to sneeze properly and have general good hygiene,” he said.

Prof Eslick said that in Boston children were taught “almost every day” about sneezing into their elbow.

Hand Hygiene Australia director Professor Lindsay Grayson said people must learn to cough and sneeze into their elbow because it reduces influenza spreading.

“Sneezing or coughing into your elbow should be considered the new good etiquette. It’s better than into hand or snotty handkerchief,” he said.

“Previously we used to think that people caught flu by people coughing and sneezing on them. Of course, that is one way it happens, but a key means of catching it is on either hands or contact with places where people have had snot, like public transport and snotty handkerchiefs.

“It’s better to sneeze into tissues and throw it away and then wash your hands, but what you don’t want to do is sneeze straight into hands then touch something.”

The move, referred to as “dab” or “vampire” sneeze, is pictured on disease control advertising internationally including in Canada and Florida.

In Britain and NSW, authorities use the slogan “catch it, bin it, kill it” during flu season, teaching people to sneeze into a tissue and immediately dispose of it and wash hands.

American authorities even used Sesame Street character Elmo to teach children about sneezing into their elbow.