Coughs and sneezes spread diseases

"Coughs and sneezes spread diseases" was a slogan first used in the United States during the 1918–20 influenza pandemic – later used in the Second World War by Ministries of Health in Commonwealth countries – to encourage good public hygiene to halt the spread of the common cold, influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

[1] It was later promoted by the United Kingdom's (and New Zealand's)[2] Ministry of Health in 1942 to encourage good public hygiene and prevent the spread of the common cold, influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

[4] Posters were designed by British cartoonist H. M. Bateman and advised people to "trap the germs by using your handkerchief".

The original posters of these were published during the Second World War and showed people in the workplace, on the street and on public transport sneezing without covering their nose or mouth, spreading their respiratory droplets.

The National Archives notes that these posters were created in an attempt to prevent wartime work absenteeism because of illness.