Abstract

CURRENCY NOTES: A POTENTIAL CARRIER OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION DURING COVID PERIOD

Arun G. Krishnan*, Arya lekshmi U. S., Ahamed Shabeer B. S., Shaiju S. Dharan, Mathan S., Merlin N. J. and Deepa Manohar R.

Abstract

Paper currency is a potential carrier of microbial contamination. Paper currency is circulated within the society from one individual to another are known to carry microbes on their surface. Currency notes contaminated by microbes might also act as pathogens, playing an important role in transmission of diseases. An individual living in unhygienic condition will contaminate the notes with bacteria, viruses etc. Hence the chance of contamination and prevalence of infection increases. Especially, in the case of Covid-19. These note act as the vehicle for contamination of hands of the next user. Improper hand washing after using toilet, counting paper notes with saliva, coughing and sneezing on the hands and exchanging money and storage of paper notes on dirty surfaces leads to contamination. For conducting the study ten rupee notes were collected from market (old note), bank (new note) and hypermarket (average used note) around the location of Marayamuttom. Contamination is seen more on currency note collected from market. This will give the exact idea about the transmission of microbes through paper currency.So we suggest proper sanitation or hand washing with soap after the use of paper currency will helpfull to prevent transmission of Covid-19 and other transmissible form of diseases.

Keywords: Carrier, Pathogens, Unhygienic, Contamination, Sanitation.