The autumn marks the start of the annual flu season which means the need for good hand hygiene practices is higher than ever.

At the beginning of the year the Government reissued its Catch it, Bin it, Kill it advice urging people to catch their coughs and sneezes in a tissue, then wash their hands in a bid to curb the spread of illnesses.

According to the Health Protection Agency the flu virus can live on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours and soft surfaces for around 20 minutes. It can be transmitted by an infected person’s coughs or sneezes, or by touching a surface contaminated with respiratory secretions and then putting the fingers in the mouth or nose or near the eyes.

“To reduce transmission it is vital that people with a respiratory infection cover their nose and mouth when they cough and sneeze - preferably with a tissue - and wash their hands afterwards,” claims the HPA. Thorough hand drying is also vital since damp hands spread up to 1,000 times more germs than dry hands.

According to the HPA flu activity in the UK this autumn so far has been low. However, flu epidemics usually occur in the colder months of the year – and tend to peak between December and March in the northern hemisphere.