Hand hygiene remains key in mobile phone cross-infection risk – Author response

Abstract

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the Letter-to Editor written by Ting, 2024 entitled ‘Hand Hygiene re mains key in mobile phone cross-infection risk’., that comments on our recently published article in Infection, Disease & Health entitled Microbial Laden Mobile Phones from International Conference Attendees Pose Potential Risks to Public Health and Biosecurity [1]. It was not the authors’ intention to be discriminating. Our report describes the findings of our research. It is important to point out that our sentence reads “may pose a real risk to Australian biosecurity and public health”. Through the paper we raise a legitimate question that mobile phones may disseminate microbes. In our abstract we clearly call for ‘further research’ to investigate whether or not mobile phones pose a potential risk to biosecurity and public health. Further research may show the question is false but without asking and investigating, the potential risk will remain. Our research invites the entire scientific community to further research and shed light on these potential risks.