To shake or not to shake

In fact he might do well to follow the lead of US President George W Bush, who resorted to using a soap-free, water-free, alcohol-based liquid sanitizer that he rubbed into his hands to kill germs for fear he may contract the common cold, or worse yet some other type of respiratory disease. President Bill Clinton, a notorious people-person, also famous for giving handshakes often used a hand sanitiser especially while greeting large crowds.

After observing Manning on the hustings throughout the country and recently in the Tunapuna constituency, I wondered if he is aware that he might be opening up himself to certain health risks with his free-for-all meet- and-greet policy. In fact Manning is not the only one at risk, I suppose the same applies for UNC leader Basdeo Panday and Congress of the People’s Winston Dookeran, not to talk about the little babies and toddlers that these politicians insist on kissing and hugging, with little thought about what kinds of germs they can been transmitting to the innocent ones. That to me is a bit of recklessness!

I watched in consternation as Manning shook the hands of every person wearing a red jersey on the walk, in Tunapuna, and then proceeded to greet almost every household along a stretch of four streets in the El Dorado constituency. Several of the people he greeted had noticeable health problems but this did not stop Manning who himself had heart surgery from engaging in the touching game. Surely it could not be safe for his health the way several women insisted on speaking directly into his face and in some instances directly inside his ear!

According to Philip M Tierno Jr, PhD, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Medical Centre, as many as “Eighty percent of all infectious diseases are transmitted by contact both direct and indirect — direct such as kissing, indirect such as shaking someone’s hand.” He warned that although the germs don’t ooze from our pores covering your mouth when you cough, wiping your nose with a tissue, even failing to wash your hands after using the bathroom can all leave germs on your skin that can get passed on during a handshake.

“If you eat or drink something without washing your hands, or if you touch your own nose, mouth, or eyes after shaking someone’s hand, you can introduce whatever germ was on their hand, and now your hand, into the portals of your body,” the doctor said, adding that “frequent hand washing is the single most important weapon we have against disease.”

I checked with a local doctor who advised that while sanitisers can help reduce contamination, washing your hands is the best way to reduce infections.

Manning told me that he had completed 24 walkabouts, and his aim is to visit all constituencies so it means for the next few weeks, maybe months, Manning will be shaking thousands more hands, and kissing thousands more babies, who ironically can’t vote and therefore can’t put him back in office. I guess embracing babies, makes politicians appear caring and sensitive and trustworthy that’s why every five years, we see the same images and overtures. It seems handshaking also has other risks, in that, some politicians suffer from swollen, sore hands.

During the 2000 election season, Bush reportedly suffered from red, swollen knuckles because of the many hands he had to shake. And for those politicians who are susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome any kind of repetitive action including hand shaking is likely to compound the problem. So the next time the PM goes on the hustings, it might be wise if his handlers and organisers packed a few bottlers of hand sanitisers along with the cartons of water, not only to drink but also to ensure clean hands. Manning, who seems to be making full use of his million-dollar home gym, judging from his lean frame and brisk walk, which left a number of people half his age panting to keep up with him, probably has little to fear, but in this silly season of politics, Manning must decide in the interest of his own health, to shake or not to shake.