Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Google Doodle Remembers First Person To Discover Handwashing Benefits

On March 20, 1847, Dr. Semmelweis was appointed as Chief Resident in the maternity clinic of the Vienna General Hospital. And that is why today google is celebrating Dr. Semmelweis.

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Amid Coronavirus Outbreak, Google Doodle Remembers First Person To Discover Handwashing Benefits
As deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and impact people globally, today's Google brings forth the importance of washing hand before doing anything with its Doodle remembering Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. Who is well known as the first person to discover the benefits of hand washing.

On March 20, 1847, Dr. Semmelweis was appointed as Chief Resident in the maternity clinic of the Vienna General Hospital. And that is why today google is celebrating Dr. Semmelweis. While working at the hospital, Semmelweis concluded that the doctors must wash their hands frequently as that reduces the transmission of disease. 


Dr. Semmelweis was born in Budapest in 1818 and got doctorate from the University of Vienna and master's degree in midwifery. During his session in Vienna General Hospital in the mid 19th century, an infection called Childbed Fever wreaked havoc and had high mortality rates in new mothers in maternity wards across Europe. 

After discovering the cause of Childbed Fever, Semmelweis did an extensive research and found that the infection were being passed on from doctors, post operations to patients through their hands.
After which Semmelweis asked every doctor and medical staff to wash their hands extensively after examining each patient.

After this observation, infection rates began reducing.


"Today, Semmelweis is widely remembered as "the father of infection control," credited with revolutionizing not just obstetrics, but the medical field itself, informing generations beyond his own that handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of any disease," Google Doodle said on its website.



image source: instagram/moraopaula