Talk:1161: Hand Sanitizer

Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
Revision as of 13:47, 16 January 2013 by 24.91.233.200 (talk)
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Does anyone think the "peak" referred to in the title text could be the 1918 flu pandemic? Or even the bird flu outbreak?Chexwarrior (talk) 10:31, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

That 99.99% number on the hand sanitizer is probably made up anyway. Any actual scientific measure of effectivity would need to take into account different resistance of different types of germs. So, question is, is the sanitizer more or less effective? -- Hkmaly (talk) 10:35, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

I actually had in the back of my mind that the 99.99% figure wasn't a "dead germ count," but the number of strains of germs the sanitizer has the ability to kill. I.e. there are some strains which it doesn't kill. —98.122.166.235 12:59, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Shouldn't 200 million times .01% actually be equivalent to 200 million times .0001, which equals 20 000 germs? 134.169.169.121 13:16, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes, it should. I wonder if he will change it when he notices? 24.93.151.187 13:37, 16 January 2013 (UTC)

Yes, 2 000 000 * .01% = 20 000 is correct

Quite aside from the arithmetic, right now the US has two epidemics: influenza and norovirus, which is often known by the misnomer of "stomach flu." According to infectious disease experts, while alcohol is likely pretty effective against bacteria and SOME viruses including influenza, alcohol is probably NOT very effective against norovirus. The best way to stop the spread of norovirus: frequent hand washing with soap and water. 24.91.233.200 13:47, 16 January 2013 (UTC)