Re: [Harp-L] cleaning harps after illness?

["lil Buddha" <ltlbuddha@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 2/21/07, b2becom@xxxxxxxxxxx <b2becom@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<SNIP>

> My limited understanding of medical germ theory is that you can't reinfect
> yourself after you have fought a bug off and had it run its course.


> From the Center for Disease Control

In general, a person who is infected with an influenza virus one year will
have some immunity to closely related viruses that may persist for one or
more years. For example, if someone was infected with the
A/California/07/2004-like strain of H3N2 that predominated during the
2005-2006 season, they are likely to have some natural immunity that will
give them protection if they are exposed to that strain or a closely related
strain again during the 2006-2007 season. The degree of protection depends
on the health of the person involved. Young and healthy people with normal
immune systems will likely have good immunity against the same or closely
related strains of virus from one year to the next. However, people with
weakened immune systems are less likely to have immunity that carries over
in other years.

It's important to remember that influenza viruses are constantly changing so
antibody made against one strain will become less effective against new
strains as influenza strains evolve over time.  In addition, there are
different types of influenza viruses circulating and different variants
within virus types, and the same type of flu virus does not necessarily
circulate each year. For instance, during the 2005-06 flu season, influenza
A (H3N2) viruses predominated; however, infection with an influenza A (H3N2)
virus would not provide protection against influenza B or influenza A (H1N1)
viruses.

<SNIP>

Am I delusional?  should I clean my harps? a soak in the tub?  with what,
> alcohol?


<SNIP>
According to a biologist on this list, bleach is a more effective cleaning
agent.