Can diseases be transmitted through toilet seats?: A 40-year-old healthcare professional has made a final point.

Entering public restrooms, used by hundreds of people on a crowded day, creates anxiety in many people. Stains on the toilet seat, urine splatter, and strong odors all contribute to hygiene concerns. So, can you contract a disease simply by sitting on the toilet seat? Microbiologists say this concern is largely unfounded.

ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTAGUE

"Theoretically, yes, you can get sick from toilet seats, but the risk is negligible," said Jill Roberts, a professor of public health and microbiology at the University of South Florida.

It has been reported that bacteria and viruses that cause sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, cannot survive for long outside the human body, making it almost impossible for them to be transmitted from a toilet seat.

According to Roberts, for such diseases to be transmitted, fresh bodily fluids from the toilet bowl must come into direct contact with the genital area. This is also highly unlikely. Similarly, the situation is the same for blood-borne pathogens. "If you see blood in a toilet bowl," Roberts says, "you'd avoid it anyway. Furthermore, unless there's sexual intercourse or the use of contaminated needles, transmission is unlikely."

Covering the toilet seat with a napkin is not my solution.

Experts say the method of covering the toilet seat with toilet paper, a popular choice, is also ineffective. They say the paper's porous structure doesn't prevent the passage of germs.

Experts emphasize that the best precaution that can be taken in public restrooms is to pay attention to hygiene rules and avoid using visibly dirty restrooms.