Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

COVID-19 over sanitisation killing the ‘good germs’- Angelle A. Cameron

COVID-19 over sanitisation killing the ‘good germs’- Angelle A. Cameron

Former Mrs BVI Angelle A. Cameron, who also hosts the weekly ‘My BVI’ webcast talk show, has warned that an overabundance of sanitisation in the Virgin Islands (VI) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic may be killing out ‘good germs’ vital to building immunity.

This she says can have a direct impact on the health of children, coupled with the fact that children are not as active as they once were and as such not as healthy.

Mrs Cameron was at the time Speaking on the July 27, 2021, edition of the My BVI show, alongside co-host Bishop John I. Cline.

“What I've noticed as a mom of three different age groups… is that potentially our children can now become vulnerable because they're not able to be active so they're not healthy as they should be,” she said.

According to Ms Cameron, constant sanitization as a result of the pandemic may also have an impact on the health of children, “They aren't... doing all the things that children need to be able to do and we're sanitizing everything so much.”

A little germs can build immunity - Cameron


“Please don't take this out of context, but a little germs help the body to build immunity and with our children growing up in this society where they rid usual good germs …you know I think it will eventually pose a risk and we're going to see a generation of not so healthy not by choice children,” she said.

Brett Finlay, a Microbiologist and Immunologist at the University of British Columbia in an April 22, 2021, podcast said from birth, humans coexist with bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and each has a different biological function.

“We've all been living in these cocoons last year, and we're not getting normal microbe exposure. A new kid born into this world, yeah they might not get a cold, but they're not getting all the other microbes that they normally also get if they went to daycare and things. … You're just not getting exposure to the normal microbes.”

He says these microbes and bacteria are also involved with how the brain, intestinal and immune systems develop.

No scientific data- US doctor


However, allergist and immunologist James Fernandez, MD, PhD, in an article in Cleveland Health on May 27, 20202, said there’s no scientific evidence to suggest that temporarily stepping up your cleaning game is dangerous to one's immune health.

“For adults, in this time frame we’re talking about and the hygiene measures that we’re taking, I don’t think there’s a lot of clinical risk to our immune system,” he said.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, VI health authorities have been recommending constant sanitisation including washing of hands to kill any potential COVID-19 virus that may have been picked up.

The CDC has recommended washing hands with soap and water but if they aren’t available, use a hand sanitiser made with at least 60% alcohol.

The hygiene hypothesis


According to Cleveland Health, the belief that a lot of cleaning and hand-washing weakens your immune system was probably born out of something called the hygiene hypothesis. This is the idea that kids who are exposed to more viruses, bacteria and other pathogens early in life build stronger immune systems.

“This idea comes from observations that some developing countries where kids might be exposed to more pathogens tend to have lower rates of certain diseases such as allergies and asthma,” Dr Fernandez notes.

But there’s still debate around this hypothesis – and how much of a role personal hygiene plays. “Theoretically it makes sense, but there isn’t a lot of strong science behind it,” Dr Fernandez noted.

To reduce the spread of the coronavirus and other infectious diseases, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing of hands with soap and water after being in a public place or after blowing nose, coughing or sneezing.

It said if you need to wash your hands but soap and water aren’t available, use a hand sanitiser made with at least 60% alcohol.

The CDC has also stated: “Using alcohol-based hand sanitiser does not cause antibiotic resistance. ... Alcohol-based hand sanitisers kill germs quick and in a different way than antibiotics. There is no chance for the germs to adapt or develop resistance.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×