Background: Influenza virus is primarily spread from person to person aerongenically, for instance, via coughing or sneezing. However, the virus may also be transmitted indirectly by touching surfaces contaminated with viral secretions. Via the contaminated hands influenza viruses may then be transferred to the mucous membranes of nose, eyes or mouth, thereby causing an infection. Adequate hand hygiene can prevent infection by this mode of transmission. This paper investigates the effectiveness of hand washing on reducing the viral burden on hands in a test design simulating practical conditions. Methods: The fingertips and/or the palms of test subjects were contaminated with a live influenza A/H1N1 virus vaccine strain (similar to A/H1N1/Brisbane/59/2007). Prior to this contamination, the virus had been stabilised with a threefold protein load mimicking nasal secretions. Results: The virus titres eluated from the fingertips or palms of the test subjects after rubbing and drying showed a 1-2 log10 reduction (median 10^5,8 PFU/ml). Without protein load the virus titre was reduced by 3.5 log10 units (10^3,9 PFU/ml). After artificial contamination of palms and fingertips with influenza A viruses and subsequent hand washing with liquid soap for 20 s no infectious influenza virus was detected on any of the test subjects. Conclusions: These findings suggest that hand washing may prevent the spread of influenza viruses during epidemic or pandemic periods.