I remember when I ran a cash intensive business. I operated a bill payment center in which people would come in and pay their overdue utility bills using cash. Cash is still a major form of payment within the un-banked population. During my tenure, I would see people pull their cash out of some odd places such as their bra, pants, underwear, and other crevices. Of course the money was usually wet and soaked with whatever bodily fluid there was around. Needless to say, it was not the most healthy place to be.
One thing to consider especially in the third world, cash is a major transmitter of bodily fluids and germs. All one has to do is to touch the money and then eat a chip or something and boom, you have whatever was on the money. Think about that the next time you are going out to eat. Does the waiter(ess) or busboy pick the tips off the table? Or even the credit card for that matter. You do not have to use your imagination very long to come to the conclusion that viruses are easily transmitted in our everyday routine and most of them involves money.
Digital currency is one solution to the problem. Simply hold out your scanner and transmit money electronically without ever having to touch anyone else's money or credit card. In fact, I am surprised that places do not have QR codes or some other means in which to scan your bill in without ever having human contact with money. It's coming though. Just a small item to think about as our economy and way of life evolves to a cashless and digital currency way of payment.
Read some of my other articles to get your imagination rolling.
