The Simple Concept

Swype Shield is based on a simple concept: the majority of colds and flu are contracted via direct viral contamination of the nose.

Virus Transmission

Viruses are the most common cause of upper respiratory illnesses known as the common cold and more serious illnesses such as influenza (the flu).  These viruses are most commonly spread by hand-to-hand contact, or more accurately hand-to-hand-to-face contact.

Viruses can live on hard surfaces (such as doorknobs, phones, and shopping carts) for up to 48 hours.  It is very easy for a virus to get on your hands, whether you touch a contaminated surface yourself, or shake hands with a person who has touched one of these surfaces.

The real exposure comes when you touch your face with your contaminated hand – which people typically do more than 15 times/hour.  Once on the face, the virus most commonly enters your body through your nose.  In fact, it takes only 1/10,000th of the amount of virus exposure inside the nose to cause a cold.  Once inside the nose the virus multiplies and spreads to the mucosal membranes where it causes an illness.