BEWARE!! Of Staphylococcus On Naira Notes :HEALTH

DIRECTOR-GENERAL (DG), Nigerian
Institute of Science Laboratory
Technology (NISLT) Ibadan, Dr.
Ighodalo Folorunso Ijagbone and
Principal Scientific Officer, Odeseye
Adebola Olayemi have drawn attention
to the prevalence of staphylococcus
species on the Nigerian currency notes.
According to a recent study
conducted, findings revealed heavy
load of bacteria with staphylococcus
aureus having a comparatively highest
percentage among other isolates.
Ijagbone in a paper published by the
institute disclosed that the results of
the investigations revealed that the
highest bacteria load was found on the
N100 note while N5, N10, N20, N50
and N200 notes had lesser load of
staphylococcus in that order.
According to the study, six isolates of
bacteria from different microbial
growths were identified in all the naira
notes.
His words: "Six isolates of bacteria
including Staphylococcus aureus from
different microbial growths were
identified on all the naira notes. Each
isolate was further subjected to
laboratory investigations. While the
pathogenicity of these isolates was yet
to be determined but Staphylococcus
aureus has been confirmed by previous
studies to be highly pathogenic
bacteria specie.
"Staphylococcus aureus is a known
cause of some major diseases in
human. These diseases include
meningitis, osteomyletis, endocarditis,
toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Chest pain
and sepsis. Diseases that could be
caused by Staphylococcus aureus
infections include furuncles, cellulitis,
pneumonia, bones and bacteraemia."
Ijagbone further explained that the
institute decided to undertake the
study in view of the manner the naira
notes are handled and traded, adding
that "Scientists at the NILST considered
it as a potential means of spreading
pathogenic micro-organisms among the
users."
According to him, the major
contributory risk factor is the
unhygienic behaviour exhibited by
members of the public.
He highlighted some of these
behaviour to include; unwashed hands
after the use of toilet, wriggling of nose
and ear with bare hands, using bare
hands to wipe sweat off the body,
using of brassiere as purse and direct
contact of money with wet skin and
other human items among others.
In the 2013 study undertaken to
investigate the presence of micro-
organisms on the naira notes, which
might be harmful to man, he pointed
out that massive growths of bacterial
were found on all the notes used in the
study.
Noting that the sources of the
bacterial contaminations on the notes
were not determined, he was however
of the opinion that they might be as
the results of high rate of direct (hand-
to-hand) exchange of naira notes
among already contaminated hands,
bags, purses and pockets.
Besides, he said mentioned that the
study further revealed that less
bacterial loads were found on the newly
introduced polymer Naira notes such as
N5, N10, N20 and N50.
According to the DG, these notes were
observed to have insignificant bacterial
loads when compared to the bacterial
loads obtained from the old notes of
the same denominations (N5, N10, N20
and N50).
The reason for the low microbial loads
observed on some notes according to
him was traced to the nature of
materials used in making the polymer
naira notes.
"It was discovered that the slippery
nature of the material used in making
these naira notes could not sustain a
high load of microbial growth. Suffice
to say that the 'papery' nature of the
material used to manufacture the old
notes promotes susceptibility to high
microbial contaminants, which
suggests that the material used in
producing the polymer naira notes is
safer with respect to bacterial
contamination," he added.
Ijagbone stressed that the main
objective of the investigation was to
point out the health hazard associated
with the handling of naira notes from
persons to persons in the society.
Apart from the currency serving as a
medium of financial transactions, it also
serves as a medium of transmitting
communicable disease pathogens to
humans as has been revealed in this
study.
He said, "This finding is very
significant particularly in the banking
sector where much of the currency is
handled and processed for distribution.
This essential commodity may be the
source of many undisclosed and
undefined disease ailments, which are
now emerging, and common in the
society. Therefore, there is the need for
more advocacy on best practices in the
handling of naira notes in the face of
increasing unhygienic attitudes and
behaviour usually exhibited by people
all over the place."
As preventive measures, he advised
that workers in the banking sector
should be provided with appropriate
Personal Protecting Equipment (PPE) to
reduce direct contact with naira notes
during processing in the bank.
Also, he expressed approval over the
e-payment system and cashless policy
adopted by the Central Bank of Nigeria
(CBN) describing it as good measures
that would have positive health
implications on Nigerians by reducing
direct contact through naira exchange.
To promote further studies as well as
detailed research on the health
implications in the course of processing
and distribution of naira notes among
Nigerians, he craved the support of all
stakeholders to assist the institute in
facilitating more work on the topic.
"The scientists in the Institute are
using this medium to solicit funding
assistance from stakeholders and donor
agencies to support this laudable
initiative," he said.