There's been numerous reports of iPhone and iPad glass crawling with bacteria and viruses.
A study done by Charles W. Hendricks says that a 'natural population of heterotrophic bacteria, including enterics, was observed to sorb to glass surfaces and multiply during the continuous culture of river water.'
In fact, after I bought an iPhone, I've gotten sick 3 times, most than I ever have. I got 2 very bad colds and a ringworm.
I'm going to look into this, because I'm scared now.
Yes, your iPhone was assembled in an environment that is as clean/sterile as possible. With such tiny internal components, all smartphones need to be manufactured in dust free spaces. Likewise, oil from the workers' fingers can be transferred (imagine getting a fingerprint on the inside of the glass!), so gloves are worn.
Yes, as with any item that is held close to the face, germs may be transferred to the surface. According to the Mayo Clinic, flu germs can survive up to 48 hours outside the human body. Wash your hands and face with soap and water, especially after sneezing, and avoid sharing your phone with folks who show signs ill. If you are the sole user of the phone, any germs present on your phone will likely be your own.
The actors in the iPhone commercials hold the phone away from their faces because the marketing department at Apple would like potential customers to see the phone as clearly as possible.
