Infection

Typical! I’m supposed to play in a match today. Poor you. But it’s probably only a cold. You’ll be up and about again soon.

Who gave me the infection? Who was it? That can be hard to know. Let’s see if we can find any clues. It was most likely a poisoned fruit.

Or, it was a mysterious shower. Or, when I didn’t wash my hands properly. Poisoned fruit? Let’s see. Lina couldn’t eat all of her banana, so I had it.

I think it was poisoned! Probably not. Bananas aren’t usually poisoned. Perhaps there was some kind of virus. Or, it happened in school!

What do you think infected you here? Shower. Mysterious shower! But listen: that “shower” was actually Lina sneezing. And then, when I came back home I made myself a little snack.

Did you wash your hands properly, before making the little snack? Why? You have touched things. Door knobs, handrails, places where other people might have left bacteria or viruses. I washed my hands.

I used water anyhow. You touched water. It was lukewarm. How about soap? Maybe a little bit.

Leon… I don’t get it. Who infected me? You ate a piece of fruit that Lina had bitten. Lina sneezed right in your face. And you prepared food without washing your hands properly.

So? If you eat from food that a sick person has eaten from, there’s a high risk that you’ll get infected. I should have said no thanks. Exactly. And if you’re in the way when someone sneezes, you’ll be directly exposed to the viruses.

But then Lina should have sneezed in another direction! Yes, and into her elbow, or in a handkerchief. And when you wash your hands you use warm water and soap, and wash and rinse thoroughly. This washes away bacteria and viruses that might have got onto your hands from things you touched during the day. You reduce the risk of getting infected or of infecting someone else.

Do you want to watch a horror movie? It was you who infected me! I am sorry. Ooohhh… Want to watch a horror movie? Then you’ll infect me even more.

There is no risk. You’ve both probably got the same virus. Actually, we’re both sick. Maybe we can isolate ourselves and watch a film instead. Then I want to watch a romantic comedy.

Or a really scary horror movie? If I can sit close. And we can have popcorn! Now listen. If you feel ill, stay at home.

Wash your hands with warm water and soap. Avoid skin contact with other people. Are you following this? No. It’s probably time to end this film, anyway.

There.