"Earlier this year, VANOC signed two publicly-traded companies that each claim to have products that affect H1N1. One, Afexa Life Sciences, is the maker of a cold and flu remedy called COLD-FX. The other, ALDA Pharmaceuticals, was named the official supplier of hand sanitizer and disinfectant cleaning products. Both companies were signed to VANOC’s $3-million to $15-million supplier category. They each will provide quantities of their products for distribution to athletes, officials and other members of the Olympic family.

ALDA claims independent tests have shown its signature T36 Antiseptic Hand Sanitizer will “completely kill the new H1N1 virus . . . in 15 seconds or less.”

Gustafson, however, said regular handwashing with warm water and soap is just as effective as using alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Handwashing: the new Olympic sport in the age of H1N1.

jefflee@vancouversun.com"