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Google Doodle spreads handwashing, recognizes 'father of infection control'

On the same day in 1847 at Vienna General Hospital, Hungarian physician and “the father of infection control” Ignaz Semmelweis encouraged doctors to clean their hands to stem the spread of disease.

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, March 20, 2020

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Google Doodle spreads handwashing, recognizes 'father of infection control' When the Google Doodle image is clicked, it’ll display several steps to wash your hands properly according to the World Health Organization (WHO). (Google/File)

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mid the spread of COVID-19 across the globe, Google Doodle is honoring Hungarian physician and “the father of infection control”, Ignaz Semmelweis on Friday.

On the same day in 1847 at Vienna General Hospital, Semmelweis encouraged doctors to wash their hands to stem the spread of disease.

In the 19th century, there was a form of infection dubbed “childbed fever” that was life-threatening to new mothers in Europe. Assigned to inspect the infection, Semmelweis believed it was spread by doctors who did not disinfect their hands after performing operations and autopsies.

He later recommended that medical staff wash their hands during patient examinations and then the number of infections in his division started to decrease.

Read also: COVID-19: Not all hand sanitizers work against it – here’s what you should use

When the Google Doodle image is clicked, it’ll display several steps to wash your hands properly according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The image is also directly linked to YouTube.

Handwashing is among the most important ways to protect yourself from the novel coronavirus disease. As of Thursday, the COVID-19 tally in Indonesia has increased to 309 confirmed cases with 25 recorded deaths. (wir/kes)

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