Holiday hazard: Kids can spread germs that lead to illness
With Thanksgiving and the holiday season kicking off later this week, you may find yourself dealing with little ones you don’t encounter much of during the year. No, not your grandkids, but the unfamiliar germs they carry and spread.
“Best advice: Don’t let the little kids help you in the kitchen,” says Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Gerba, who has done extensive research on how pathogens infect humans, says small children are breeding grounds for germs. “Everything goes in their mouth, and they touch everything immediately,” he says. “That’s why colds and flu always peak right after Thanksgiving.”
Gerba says a little caution — and a lot of hand sanitizer — can help lower your odds of a post-Thanksgiving bout of chills, fever or stomach ailments. He says hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes not only kill bacterial germs but are effective against viruses that cause flu and colds.
As for the Thanksgiving meal, harmful bacteria are destroyed by cooking, but leftovers could be a problem. Many people leave the turkey and trimmings on the table for a while before refrigerating them. This gives bacteria a chance to grow and raises the risk of foodborne illnesses. “You usually see a surge in outbreaks after Thanksgiving from reheating meat,” Gerba says. “Make sure you reheat it or microwave it really well, otherwise you’ll be spending more time in the toilet than visiting relatives.”
If you’re taking a flight this holiday season, the planes will be crowded with people and their germs. And the germs of all the people who took the same flight over the past few days. “You’ve got so many people in the plane and they don’t disinfect it,” Gerba says. “The trays in front of you are the worst.”
If you think the world is a germier place than it used to be, you’re correct. “We come into contact with more different people’s germs than ever before,” Gerba says. “You don’t have to reach out very far to touch anybody, because in the shopping mall a thousand people have pushed that same door plate.” Be especially aware of not touching your nose, eyes or mouth after touching a surface. “Even the common cold virus is more readily transmitted by your fingers than it is by someone sneezing,” Gerba says.
Touchscreens found at ATMs are notorious germ breeding grounds, but there is a technique that you can use to keep your fingers clean if you forget the hand sanitizer. “I’ve learned to use my knuckles a lot,” Gerba says.
