Health Alert: Cell Phones May Contain E Coli Bacteria

Are you sure your mobile phone is E coli - free?

A new study has found that 16% of cell phones in the UK contain E coli bacteria traces. This comes down to a ratio that 1 out of 6 mobile phones may have E coli due to poor hygiene of its users. E coli in mobile phones commonly originate from fecal bacteria that may cause food poisoning.

According to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Britons should make it a habit to wash their hands properly after using the toilet. The study also states that most people in the UK lie about their own personal grooming and hygiene. In the study, out of 390 people , 95% said that they do was their hands whenever soap is available but still, 82% of Britons hands are contaminated with bacteria and 92% of mobile phones.

The research was done with 390 cell phone samples from a total of twelve cities. It is now a question of public health as to whether 16% of human hands and phones have traces of the dreaded E coli. Back in June, food poisoning due to E coli causes an outbreak affecting a number of people.

According to Dr. Val Curtis of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine that the study aims to encourage UK people to improve their personal hygiene and grooming. “I hope the thought of having E coli on their hands and phones encourages them to take more care in the bathroom – washing your hands with soap is such a simple thing to do but there is no doubt it saves lives” Curtis states.