Could the London Olympics cause a deadly epidemic?
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Viruses such as swine flu can be spread through close contact with other people and mass events provide the perfect breeding ground for diseases.
Reports published in the Lancet Infectious Disease Journal showed that scientists believe crowds increase the danger of an epidemic.
Professor Ibrahim Abubakar, who works at the University of East Anglia, said music and religious festivals can lead to the spread of diseases from other countries and escalate the course of diseases that already exist in England.
He also referred to a flu outbreak which occurred in Australia on World Youth Day four years ago.
Another report published in the Lancet said air transport could have "potentially serious implications to health, security, and economic activity worldwide."
However Professor Brian McCloskey, who is responsible for the Health Protection Agency's preparations for London 2012, told the BBC that people should not be too concerned.
He explained: "The history of the Olympic Games suggests infection doesn't happen often.The issue for us is to make sure the right system is in place to respond."
Should we be worried about diseases spreading during the Olympics or not? Let us know below...
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- Exercise regularly<p> Regular moderate exercise helps stimulate the lymphatic system which ensures the efficient removal of bodily toxins; in addition, exercise like cycling, jogging, walking or swimming can help you relax and reduces stress, which is also known to weaken your immunity. A study found that brisk walking for at least 20 minutes a day helped reduce chances of catching a cold. In addition to exercising, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding high blood pressure are also beneficial for your immunity.</p> <div> </div>
- Wash your hands<p> So simple yet so effective, regular hand washing does play a role in reducing the spread of bacteria during cold and flu season (so it's important to keep it up even if your hands are <a href="http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/12/16/winter-skin-bargain-buys/" target="_self">dry and flaky from winter winds</a>). A study found that soap and water (and alcohol-based hand sanitisers) reduced the germ count on health care workers' hands by 58 per cent after 30 seconds of washing. Just note that while hand sanitiser does kill many bugs, it isn't very effective against norovirus, that nasty winter vomiting bug.</p> <p> </p> <div> </div>
- Get some rays<p> Scientists have found that vitamin D can be crucial in boosting the immune system, particularly in helping the body to fight off serious infections. Get a daily dose from the sun (even on a cloudy day) or in vitamin D-rich foods like eggs, salmon and mackerel.</p>
- Stop smoking<p> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 12pt; ">If you're still not convinced it's time to stop smoking, cigarettes can also hinder your immunity because they affect the health of blood vessels, making it harder for the body to fight off infections. In addition, smoking puts you at a higher risk for respiratory infections.</span></p>
- Sleep well<p> The immune system is more vulnerable when the body is sleep-deprived since a good night's snooze allows time for our organs to replenish themselves. Aim for eight hours a night. Quality of sleep is also thought to be important for helping the immune system thrive, so reducing alcohol intake may help you achieve an optimal night of rest.</p>
