Doctor gives advice on how to avoid getting sick during holiday travel season
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Millions of Americans have traveled and are now coming home from the Thanksgiving holiday, and doctors say that increases the risk of getting sick.“Kids have gone back to school and everybody’s starting to get sick, and that just continues to escalate into November and December. That also correlates with when we are traveling and are together for the holidays,” said Donald Dumford, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic. “A lot of people don’t mind showing up with a little case of the sniffles to Thanksgiving dinner. But then that means that everybody else is at risk of getting that virus.”If you’re traveling for the holidays, Dr. Dumford said there are a few things you can do to help prevent the spread of germs. The most important piece of advice? Wash your hands, especially before and after you eat or touch your face. He added that hand sanitizer is fine if there isn’t a sink around.He also recommended wiping down surfaces that are “high-touch,” such as food trays and shared armrests on a plane.Finally, he recommended getting vaccinated if you already aren’t.“It’s that time of year where we need to think about getting our flu vaccine and consider getting our COVID vaccine, especially for those that are elderly or have a compromised immune system. And I always like to add, don’t just consider your own health status, but think about the health status of those around you,” he said.In Louisville, according to the Department of Public Health and Wellness Influenza Surveillance, 484 cases of influenza have been reported since September 29. 205 of those came the week of Nov. 22.Experts also said it can take about one to two weeks for a vaccine to take effect.Dumford added that if you are traveling out of the country, you should talk with your physician to see if any other precautions are needed, such as getting a booster shot for measles.Copyright 2025 WAVE. All rights reserved.
