Shoppers beware: Study says germs lurk on credit cards
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By FOX 10 News - Staff Report
PHOENIX -
Germs: they are impossible to ignore or hide from.
The kitchen sink is considered the dirtiest place of all, but have you thought about all the germs you might be transferring while you shop for Christmas?
Researchers found as many as 1 in 10 bank cards have fecal bacteria on them and 1 in 7 bills are contaminated, too.
Researchers swabbed the hands, money, and credit cards of nearly 300 people.
Of the 300 people tested:
Bacteria found on hands: 11% Credit cards: 8% Bills: 6%
To avoid getting sick while you shop, infectious disease experts advise wiping down your credit cards after using them, and making sure you wash your hands as much as possible.
Carrying hand sanitizer in your purse or pocket for when you can't get to soap and water is a good idea too.
Try to avoid touching your face, especially your eyes and mouth, because that's the easiest way for bacteria to get inside your body and start wreaking havoc.
Two other germ hot-spots are cell phones and hand bags.
The study found 1 in 6 cell-phones have massive amounts of bacteria on them.
That's not surprising considering over 70 percent of people admit to taking their phone to the bathroom with them.
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