Swine Flu May Spread During the Holidays, Warns CDC
We know that we just reported how incidents of swine flu seem to be on a decline, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nevertheless warns of how this trend might change over the holidays.
Just as there were concerns expressed over the annual Hajj, the exodus of people going back to their hometowns to spend time with family over the holidays is causing concern regarding the possibility of spreading swine flu.
There are a lot of potential scenarios, and keeping them in mind might help ensure that our holidays are kept swine flu-free. The most common will be the possibility of catching the virus while traveling and passing it on to friends and family once one gets home. Health officials recognize this and have already launched a new travel-health campaign to serve as a guide for people.
Shopping malls, which may be filled with eager shoppers this holiday season, are also considered as danger zones. We already did a feature regarding department store and mall Santas who also recognized the health risk of being in the midst of crowds during the holidays.
The CDC and the government’s due diligence include putting up of posters in airports, seaports and border crossings, displaying such slogans as “Stop, Wash and Go.”
Travelers are encouraged to exercise prudence in pushing through with any travel plans. If one feels out of sorts in any way, then it is deemed more preferable to simply shelve travel plans and stay home until one absolutely feels better. We wonder is the government can make some kind of arrangement with airlines and bus companies regarding more lenient penalties for sudden cancellations due to health reasons.
Must-haves to place in one’s purse or carry-on are antiseptic wipes and sanitizers; having been vaccinated against the flu will is also encouraged.
Tags: swine flu, swine flu prevention, swine flu protection, swine flu threat
