Simple Tips to Avoid the Flu This Christmas and Have a Healthy Holiday Season

‘It was the night before Christmas, when cold and flu germs were spreading throughout the house – and your cousin’s kid coughed right into your face.

A similar version probably exists on the classic Christmas poem A visit from St. Nicholas A cheeky cough syrup ad makes some point in creating fears that you might get sick over the holidays.

But ’tis the season to get sick — and the season to pass around bugs like unwanted gifts to families and friends.

“At this time of year, when we are all gathering with our loved ones for the holidays, including young and old, this is an important moment for everyone to take care of each other,” said Dr. Natasha Crocroft, Canada’s acting chief public health officer. a statement Last week.

According to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canada is currently experiencing an increase in cases of flu, which is hitting people earlier than in previous years. And according to PHAC, the dominant strain of influenza, H3N2, is more likely to cause severe illness — especially in seniors and young children.

Doctors and health officials say getting vaccinated This is the best form of prevention, but there are other steps we can take to stay healthy.

So before you pack up the family and head from one celebration to the next, here are some helpful tips to help you have a flu-free holidays.

stick to the basics

Toronto pharmacist Deanna Kang says being around groups of people will increase your chances of getting sick.

Therefore, it is even more important to take precautions to avoid exposure to the virus, he said.

Viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, infect your nose, throat, and lungs. breathing in saliva or mucus particles – For example, if a sick person sneezes or coughs on you.

But you can also get infected by rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth after touching surfaces with infected particles, as well as by shaking hands or crossing objects (as this cute but ominous TikTok video below warns).

PHAC recommends Wash your hands frequently with soap for at least 20 seconds.

Hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol is a good substitute when you don’t have access to soap and water. Just make sure to rub your hands for at least 20 seconds or until they feel dry.

And definitely don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth until you’ve cleaned your hands. the agency says,

Another important practice to limit your chances of catching or spreading a virus is to do some ottawa hospital Says, “A lesson from pre-school we should all take heed of”: Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

Dr. Michaeline McGinty, an infectious disease specialist at the Ottawa Hospital, says simply taking care of yourself makes a big difference during respiratory flu season.

“Make sure to get enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat healthy — all the things your mother told you to do,” she said in a post on the hospital’s website. “Turns out, this is extremely good advice for reducing your risk of getting infected with the flu and reducing your risk of developing more serious illness if you do get it.”

mask up and be happy

The days of COVID-19 mask mandates are long gone, however, as some hospitals and care facilities across Canada have once again implemented mandatory mask policies, which is common this time of year due to the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses.

If you’re visiting a loved one in the hospital over the holidays or visiting a senior’s home with other vulnerable people, you should be prepared with a mask.

But you can wear a mask in other situations, too, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.

“Many of these respiratory viruses are transmitted primarily through the air in indoor settings,” he said.

Although he says that wearing a mask will not eliminate your risk of getting infected or spreading the disease, but it can reduce the risk of infection.

Dr. Raghu Venugopal, an emergency physician in Toronto, says any place where “a lot of people are sick and breathing heavily” is a good place to wear a mask, including public transportation.

“If you’re taking the bus, taking the train, taking the subway, I think that’s another obvious place to wear a mask,” he said.

But when it comes to planes, Dr. Nicky Longley, a travel medicine doctor at University College London Hospitals, says they’re actually quite safe places because of the air filtration systems built into planes.

“Unless there’s someone sitting right next to you or maybe right in front of you who turns around and coughs in your face, your risk on the plane is low,” he said in a travel health quiz video. posted on youtube earlier this year.

According to, most modern passenger jets International Air Transport AssociationEquipped with high-efficiency particulate air (or HEPA) filters capable of removing more than 99 percent of bacteria and viruses and the air in the cabin is refreshed 20-30 times an hour.

However, the Canadian government says that although masks are not required on planes, they are.strongly recommend“Wear them Reduce the spread of respiratory diseases,

But Longley says you’re most likely to pick up germs by touching surfaces and then eating, or while you’re waiting at the airport, because it’s essentially “a big hangar of people standing around.”

no place like home

The easiest thing to do to prevent contracting or spreading the disease is to stay home, especially if you’re not feeling well, Kang says.

“Just be honest and express how you feel so we can make sure we stay healthy throughout the holiday season,” she said.

Bogoch agrees and says it’s for your health and the health of others.

“If people are sick with the flu or anything else, there’s no point in going to work or sending their kids to school or going to a holiday party and getting everyone else sick,” he said.