DETROIT – Nobody wants to be sick during the holidays, and nothing derails family plans quite as fast as a stomach virus.
Lots of viruses are circulating right now, but experts say there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of catching them, whether you’re staying close to home or hitting the road.
Millions of Americans will be traveling this week for Thanksgiving, but the risk of getting sick has been rising since September and October.
“All the kids have gone back to school and everybody’s starting to get sick. And that just continued to escalate into November and December. And then that correlates exactly when we then are traveling and are together for the holidays,” said Dr. Donald Dumford of Cleveland Clinic Infectious Disease.
Holiday gatherings can quickly spread a virus to multiple family members.
“A lot of people don’t mind showing up with a little case of the sniffles to Thanksgiving dinner. But then that means that, you know, everybody else is at risk of getting that virus,” Dr. Dumford said.
Stomach viruses can be especially contagious.
If you’re traveling, the biggest risk is from contaminated surfaces. Wash your hands frequently and try to avoid touching your face.
If you’re sick or have been recently, avoid preparing food for others because it can easily become contaminated.
If you’re hosting, clean the kitchen, bathroom, and any high-touch surfaces with a bleach-based cleaner before guests arrive and after everyone goes home.
While there’s no vaccine to protect against stomach viruses, Dr. Dumford says you can protect yourself from other common illnesses.
“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 too — don’t just consider your own health status but think about the health status of those around you,” he said.
Experts stress that while hand sanitizers kill some germs, they do not kill certain kinds of stomach viruses, including norovirus.
Your best defense is washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds -- and teaching your kids to do the same.