I was wondering, do med students face a significant risk of catching "something" by being exposed to viral infections? Afterall, there's just a thin layer of latex between you and it. What about pathology rotations or residencies when you have to work with some perhaps very harmful cultures? Does this risk bother anyone? How do you protect against it? Do med students have higher health insurance premiums?
The risk is certainly there, but that risk is decreased significantly by taking precautions (e.g., wearing gloves when there is potential contact with an infectious source, vaccinations, etc.). All medical students, for example, are vaccinated against Hepatitis B virus prior to enrolling in med school.
