TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Most of us will never forget the flu outbreak of 2017.
It was one of the deadliest on record where 80,000 people died.
Emergency rooms in hospitals were packed with patients. Urgent care centers filled up fast. People were testing positive daily, and there seemed to be no end in sight.
Some doctors describe last year’s flu season as the worst they’re ever seen.
“Catastrophic is the word I would use. We had the rooms filled with flu patients daily,” said Dr. Gregory Schwaid from South Tampa Centra Care.
Now, we’re at that time of year again.
It’s the start of flu season, which runs from November to March, which happens to coincide with the beginning of the holiday travel season.
The combination can be tricky and a bit treacherous.
Friends and family begin flying in, and often they transport something you definitely don’t want in your house on turkey day.
On the flip side, many people leave town for the holidays, and sometimes they bring something back with them.
Something that often lingers, long after the holiday.
The flu.
“So, with the holidays, coming around the corner, it’s important to remember proper hygiene,” said Dr. Schwaid.
Doctors tell WFLA, it’s simple. Wherever your turkey day takes you, remember to take these supplies along. Have them on hand for a flu-free Thanksgiving, wherever you may be.
1. Soap, soap and more soap
It may sound cliche, but every single physician we spoke said the same thing. Hand washing, by far, is the number one way you’ll stay healthy during the holidays. Keep it all over your house, and wash often, especially when you’re cooking. One doctor told us, “You can’t wash your hands too much, especially during the holidays with a house full of people.”
2. Your own cup
Yep, keep your own cup handy while visiting others. Or, if you have guests, grab a marker, some plastic cups and start writing names on them. When folks get the flu, physicians maintain, it’s often from shared utensils and glasses.
3. Keep those common areas clean
Experts say you can never have enough disinfecting wipes handy when company comes to town. Consider this. According to researchers at MIT, droplets from a sneeze or cough can travel up to 25 feet in your home and remain there. So, keep those areas clean where family and friends congregate, kitchen counters, coffee tables and dining room tables. Don’t forget the remote control and the refrigerator door, spots that you know get touched by everyone at one time or another.
