[interfixus]

In my younger days, I used to get my normal share of cold and flu and gastric upsets. Since instigating a few basic precautionary behaviors and no-gos, I haven't had a sick day for more than ten years.

I never stick fingers in my mouth or nose, and I only rub my eyes when reasonably satisfied that it is safe to do so.

I take care not uncritically to touch exposed things and surfaces in public areas. And only use trolleys or baskets in supermarkets if absolutely forced to. I'm aware that anything conveyed by the check-out conveyoer belt is potentially contaminated.

I wash my hands, of course, though I am by no means fanatical about it.

[spodek]

Curiously, I do all those things without a second thought -- as well as my daily habit of picking up at least one piece of trash from the street and putting it in a trash can, putting my bare hands on subway poles and in dirt when gardening -- and have also not had a sick day in as long as I can remember, at least a decade.