THE EXPERT CONSENSUS WAS WRONG: Disinfecting hand gels don’t affect swine flu infection rate. “The regular use of alcohol-based disinfecting hand gels authorities recommended during the A(H1N1) pandemic has little effect on the disease’s infection rate, according to a study published Sunday. The findings suggest that the pandemic virus and similar strains may be most effectively transmitted in the air, rather than by contact with infected surfaces, the authors of the study said.”