Millions of Americans are fighting the flu. In fact, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, doctors haven’t diagnosed this many cases of the flu since 2009.
The only thing worse than getting the flu is having it while traveling. Trust me. I’ve never been as sick as I was while on a recent trip to China. Just try getting medication when no one else around you speaks English!
So, what do you do?
Health experts say getting a flu shot is a “must” … especially for anyone traveling. We also know that washing our hands often is the easiest and best way to prevent spreading germs. What about all of those other people on your flight? Are they vaccinated and using soap while coughing into their elbows like Elmo taught us?
Elizabeth Groenweghe is an epidemiologist specialist at the Clay County Public Health Center in suburban Kansas City. The bad news, according to Groenweghe, is that “the flu virus spreads person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and generates tiny droplets. These droplets can spread up to 6 feet.”
SIX FEET!!
Think of all the people who walk within six feet of you every day. If any of them cough, sneeze, or even talk, you run the risk of picking up the viruses they are carrying. Unfortunately, your risk doesn’t end there.
“It is also possible for the flu virus to contaminate objects if a person coughs, sneezes, or touches these objects,” says Groenweghe. Those objects include tray tables, window shades, door handles, … the ice bucket in the hotel room!
(At this point is anyone else wondering how we aren’t all dead?)
“the flu virus spreads person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks and generates tiny droplets. These droplets can spread up to 6 feet …”
OK, so how do we protect ourselves during the vacation we’ve been looking forward to for months?
- Make sure you’re up on all of your vaccinations and boosters. That includes boosters for illnesses such as whooping cough, pneumonia and shingles, if applicable.
- If you know you’re not going to be in the position to wash your hands, make sure you’re carrying, and using, hand sanitizer.
- If someone sitting near you is sick, ask a flight attendant if there is an empty seat you can move to for the remainder of your flight.
The CDC recommends that if you’re sick, don’t travel. In my case, it was too late. I was already on the plane and in the middle of a 12 hour flight to China by the time I knew I was coming down with something.
According to Groenweghe, it is possible for the flu virus to survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours.
If you’re worried, Groenweghe says, “most common household cleaning products that you would get at the store do kill the flu virus and wiping down/cleaning surfaces such as door handles, trays, etc. could help kill any flu viruses.”
I have used this tactic on several cruises that I’ve taken. I have no actual proof that wiping down our cabin prevented us from getting sick. However, there were people on our cruise that did get sick, and we didn’t.
Do you have any tips that keep you well while traveling?