 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2009-07-03 15:20
Just thought I'd ask around (not that it applies to me but it is an interesting topic for discussion) given the current warnings about an impending pandemic, what precautions are people taking about trying instruments, mouthpieces etc.? One imagines that they could be an easy way to pass on an infection of this type, quite likely before the previous user was showing any symptoms.
Vanessa.
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2009-07-03 15:35
Now, H1N1 swine flu goes from swine-> human, although human to human is definitely a reality now. One should consider a more generalized scenario against catching flu instead of just being concerned about swine flu.
I think it's safe to say that one should not share mouthpieces if at all possible, and read manufacturers' guide on maintenance on what to use to disinfect the instrument. Typical water rinsing won't cut it.
Be sure to wash your hands regularly and make sure that the keyworks do get a thorough cleaning and disinfecting run. The moisture, mucus and saliva inside the bore of the instrument will be major ways of transmitting the virus, to do make sure that the instrument is dried and hopefully not been played for a few days before you would try out an instrument that is not your own.
We're talking about an influenza here, so might as well as to pull out Wikipedia... which says that:
"Influenza can be spread in three main ways: by direct transmission when an infected person sneezes mucus into the eyes, nose or mouth of another person; through people inhaling the aerosols produced by infected people coughing, sneezing and spitting; and through hand-to-mouth transmission from either contaminated surfaces or direct personal contact, such as a hand-shake...
As the influenza virus can persist outside of the body, it can also be transmitted by contaminated surfaces such as banknotes,doorknobs, light switches and other household items. The length of time the virus will persist on a surface varies, with the virus surviving for one to two days on hard, non-porous surfaces such as plastic or metal, for about fifteen minutes from dry paper tissues, and only five minutes on skin. However, if the virus is present in mucus, this can protect it for longer periods."
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-07-03 16:09
One of my students has it. I hardly ever have contact with the mouthpieces and/or reeds if I can help it. Children carry far to many colds etc. and I don't want any of them.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Sarah Elbaz
Date: 2009-07-03 19:21
One of my students had it. He was in a lesson and didn't feel well and two days later his mother called and said that he has the flu. I didn't catch it and his mother who was with him all the time didn't get sick too.
however- 8 children in his class at school got sick. All of them are fine.
Its just another kind of flu - if people are sick its not easy but for healthy people its ok.
Sarah
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