Halloween and Flu
The ghosts, goblins and other assorted characters will be at your door on Halloween. The Monterey County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control urge you to take steps to protect yourself and your family from the “germ monsters” lurking around this flu season.
!Washing hand frequently should be a routine practice, but you need to be especially careful this time of year
!Avoid spreading germs this Halloween: when you greet Trick-or-Treaters, give out the candy yourself, or scoop it out, rather than let all the kids reach in and get it themselves
!No matter how scary their costume, kids should not share their outfits, especially their masks. Tell your trick-or-treaters to keep their costumes to themselves
!If your child has a cough and you think it is "just a cold", err on the side of safety and avoid going out that night
!Flu precautions include wiping down doors, handles and other objects that are commonly touched. On Halloween, frequently touched objects are likely to include exterior door handles as well as doorbells. To minimize the spread of germs, use a product which is effective against viruses and wipe down those handles and doorbells frequently
!Pregnant? Step away from the door on Halloween night. Pregnant women, asthmatic and those with suppressed immune systems should not be handing out Halloween candy due to their heightened risks of contracting the flu
!Finally, remember that Halloween Flu precautions do not end when children arrive home. Make sure they wash their hands and don't keep reaching into the bags of their friends or even their siblings
Taking steps to avoid spreading germs will help you and your family have a safe and healthy Halloween.
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Contacts: Hugh F. Stallworth, MD, MPH Lisa B. Hernandez, MD, MPH
Health Officer 755-8942 Deputy Health Officer 755-4585