This question has medical and social aspects. It kind of relates to my interest in network distribution of information and the thermodynamics of networks, since the spread of disease is among other things a network effect. The corona virus COVID-19 seems to be spreading around the world, and that raises this question.
Handshaking can spread disease. It is beneficial to inhibit spreading disease. So it follows that it would be beneficial to inhibit handshaking.
According to Wikepedia’s article, Handshake, the custom of handshaking goes back at least 2,500 years ago in Greece. That is a social factor since handshaking is a widespread and established social custom.
Things have changed in the past 2500 years however. World population and urbanization have greatly increased. Intrusion on wild habitats has increased increasing the possibility of introducing diseases novel to human populations. On the other hand, contemporary science has a theory of disease based on microscopic pathogens and prescribes levels of hygiene probably unfamiliar to societies of 2,500 years ago.
Alex Lickerman M.D. in a blog at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-in-world/201202/don't-shake-hands said that for health’s sake people should not shake hands.
Alternatives to handshakes include fist and elbow bumps. Do you suggest others?
Dr. John Campbell who has posted videos with his views on the epidemiology of COVID-19, for example, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-NpadSNuA suggested suspending handshaking in public gatherings.
Your views?
Dear Dr.Robert,
There are possibilities of spreading the microbes through handshake greeting.We have done some work and isolated microbes from the skin of hands.
In order to greet somebody, you can adopt Namaste, a very old Indian culture to greet. You can also adopt the Japanese style of greeting. When I was living in Japan, I always followed their culture to greet the people. It is up to you to adopt any of the method to greet instead of hand shaking.
If you need any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at my below cited email.
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
Founder Director of Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Anand, India
Dear Dr.Robert,
There are possibilities of spreading the microbes through handshake greeting.We have done some work and isolated microbes from the skin of hands.
In order to greet somebody, you can adopt Namaste, a very old Indian culture to greet. You can also adopt the Japanese style of greeting. When I was living in Japan, I always followed their culture to greet the people. It is up to you to adopt any of the method to greet instead of hand shaking.
If you need any other assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at my below cited email.
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
Founder Director of Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, Anand, India
Mahendra Pal above suggested Namaste and the Japanese style of greeting as alternatives, good suggestions both.
Today I learned from someone I met and asked about Namaste of an alternative also appealing. With right elbow bent, in greeting place the flat of your hand over your heart for moment. This seems , a kind of `heart felt’ greeting, and quite a good alternaitve. One may suppose that such a manner of greeting should be accompanied by a slight movement of the eyes or tipping of the head, so that the greeter’s manner of greeting is not mistaken for indicating that the greeter is having a bout of heartburn or some other malady.
Let's follow Joshua O. Ighalo setting of an example above in his advice above and encourage others to avoid handshakes.
Handshakes portrays a great communication impact and inclusion in social gatherings and man is a social being.
However, the epidemiological implications is fast out weighing the social importance. Change is the only constant thing . Its time to change.
Helpful from the CDC:
How COVID-19 Spreads (noted March 2, 2020):
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html
From Associated Press article printed in Globe and Mail March 2, 2020 page 2, Culture of friendly kissing poses a dilemma ... , in the concluding paragraph: During Milan Fashion Week, cheek kissing was dropped as the week went on .... in favour of ... a little double kiss to fingertips that one fashionista dubbed, “the new coronavirus kiss.”
A youtube video demonstrating bowing in Japanese culture, which is used for greeting and other purposes is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytmdQC6OxPU
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