CDC urges caution as you travel this holiday season…
By Militza Richard
The holidays are a time of sharing — passing food and giving presents. But this year, make sure that the one thing you don’t share is the swine flu.
Recent announcements have indicated that the swine flu may have already peaked, but with many people crowded into airports and shopping malls over the holiday season, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is worried that the holidays could mean more infections and has launched a new travel-health campaign in response.
"It's important to remember the things that everybody can do to stay healthy," said Dr. Beth Bell of the CDC.
With 33 million Americans expected to be traveling on the highways over the Thanksgiving holiday and an additional 2.3 traveling by airplane, the CDC is stressing the importance of doing the simple things to stay healthy.
People are encouraged to travel only if they are well, get vaccinated against swine and seasonal flu, wash their hands often, and cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.
This is especially important for those traveling on crowded airplanes where a sneezing passenger may pose an infection risk.
Thanksgiving is usually followed by a slight spike in seasonal flu cases, but with swine flu adding an addition worry health officials are staying alert. They are putting up posters in airports, seaports and border crossings in time for Thanksgiving. Campaign themes encourage travelers to “Stop, Wash, and Go” and remind them that "Prevention can be Travel-Sized."
Since it first appeared this April, an estimated 22 million Americans have been ill with swine flu. Of those, about 98,000 have been hospitalized and 4,000 killed.