Biggest Risk Factors for Disease Spread at Gatherings

1. Hand Hygiene Compliance

• Even though handwashing is emphasized, people may not always wash their hands properly or at all.
• Soap availability, water temperature, and convenience can affect compliance.
• Shared items like drag clothes, cooking utensils, and tools can become fomites (contaminated objects that spread disease).

2. Food and Water Contamination

• Dish Dance & Dishwashing Setup
  • The Dish Dance system helps reduce contamination, as the tubs are frequently replaced. However, standing water in tubs, even briefly, can still be a potential risk if not changed often enough.
• Cross-Contamination in Food Prep
  • Raw vegetables can become contaminated if they come into contact with unwashed hands, dirty cutting boards, or knives used on other foods without proper cleaning.
  • If someone with unclean hands touches a vegetable that is then served raw, bacteria or viruses can transfer to everyone eating it.
• Food Temperature & Serving Style
  • Serving food really hot (above 60°C/140°F) can kill bacteria, but it’s most important to prevent contamination after cooking rather than relying on heat alone.
  • Having designated servers fill plates instead of people serving themselves at a buffet could reduce the spread of germs, as fewer hands would touch serving utensils and food.
• Breakfast Barn Ventilation & Storage
  • The Breakfast Barn is well-ventilated, which is good for air circulation.
  • However, the open cupboards expose dishes and cutlery to flies and dust, increasing the risk of contamination.
  • The white plastic jerrycans with tap water are a potential hazard if they are not cleaned and refilled frequently. Stagnant water inside can become a breeding ground for bacteria if not emptied and sanitized regularly.

3. Shared Toilets and Waste Handling

• Ecotoilets require proper management—if people don’t use enough sawdust or if poop isn’t fully composted before use, pathogens can survive.
• Pee and poop handling (e.g., spreading urine on the land) may spread disease if not done hygienically.
• Flies and insects can transfer fecal bacteria to food and communal areas.
• Cleaning frequency: If toilets aren’t cleaned frequently enough (seats, handles, surrounding areas), lingering fecal bacteria can be picked up by people and spread further.
• Fly infestations in the past have worsened disease spread, especially around the toilets and the breakfast barn. Measures like using more sawdust, keeping toilet lids closed, replacing shit tons more often, and covering food with mosquito nets significantly reduced the problem.

4. Water Sources and Bathing Risks

• The UV-filtered well water is safe for drinking, and the mountain stream water for showers and dishwashing does not mix with your drinking water supply. However, bathing in untreated water can allow pathogens (like E. coli or Giardia) to persist.
• Bathtub Heating: Heating water to 40°C (104°F) does not kill bacteria or parasites—it is actually an ideal temperature for bacterial growth. The bathtub could become a source of Legionella or other waterborne infections if it is not drained and cleaned regularly.

5. High-Density Close Contact

• Shigella and norovirus spread through person-to-person contact, especially when people eat communally and hug/kiss/touch often.
• The Love Temple can be a vector if people don’t wash hands before/after, and bodily fluids can spread infections.
• Drag and costume sharing might indirectly spread pathogens through contaminated fabric.