Staying Healthy by Washing Your Hands　(1/2)

Hand washing is a powerful way to prevent the spread of disease. The World Bank, the United Nations and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical

Medicine did a study to urge hand washing around the world. They found that one million lives could be saved each year if people washed their hands with soap often. They said that programs to increase hand washing with soap could be among the most effective ways to reduce infectious" title="a.传染，传染(性)的">infectious" class="hjdict" word="infectious" title="a.传染，传染(性)的">infectious" target=_blank>infectious" title="a.传染，传染(性)的">infectious disease. Doctors say many diseases can be prevented from spreading by hand washing. These include pinworms, influenza" class="hjdict" word="influenza" target=_blank>influenza, the common cold, hepatitis A, meningitis and infectious" title="a.传染，传染(性)的">infectiousdiarrhea.

Hand washing destroys germs from other people, animals or objects a person has touched. When people get bacteria on their hands, they can infect themselves by touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Then these people can infect other people.

The experts say the easiest way to catch a cold is to touch your nose or eyes after someone nearby has sneezed or coughed. Another way to become sick is to eat food prepared by someone whose hands were not clean.