A STUDY of UK currency has found bank notes and coins can carry up to 19 different bacteria. And the scariest part is many of those strains could kill you.
A HOST of killer bugs could be lurking in your wallet, experts have warned.
A UK-based study by The London Metropolitan University has found cash and notes are a breeding ground for seriously dangerous germs.
It found more than three in four UK bank notes and coins were contaminated with bugs that can cause meningitis, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome, miscarriage and food poisoning.
It’s prompted experts to call for cash to be scrapped.
Researchers have concluded that moving to a cashless society would be beneficial for population health, rather than passing germs via currency.
They examined three of each denomination of note and coin in circulation across the UK.
They found 28 of the 36 (78 per cent) were coated with a variety of 19 different bacteria.
Two of those were antibiotic-resistant superbugs named by the World Health Organisation as a major threat.
Another was commonly found in faeces — indicating that people are not washing their hands after going to the toilet.
Some 13.1 billion cash payments were made in the UK last year, accounting for 22 per cent of transactions. In Australia, that figure was higher with a 2016 RBA survey finding 37 per cent of payments were made using cash.
Prof Paul Matewele from London Metropolitan University said the results were “very concerning”.
“The notes and coins currently circulating in the UK are a health hazard,” he said.
“I try to use my phone or card to pay whenever possible to avoid touching cash.
“We should consider moving to a cashless society to help reduce the spread of these bugs.
“If people pay for a sandwich with coins they should definitely wash their hands before eating it.
“If you fail to wash your hands after touching cash, you are asking for trouble.”
MRSA, which can kill, was found on 2p, 5p, 10p, £1 and £2 coins and £10, £20 and £50 notes. The antibiotic-resistant bug can also cause food poisoning, cellulitis and toxic shock syndrome.
Listeria, which causes miscarriage and septicaemia, was found on 20p, 50p and £1 coins and £5, £10 and £20 notes.
And enterococcus faecium, which can cause neonatal meningitis, as well as infections of the abdomen, skin, urinary tract and blood, was found on the 2p, 5p and 10p coins as well as the £10 note.
