Germiest Places To Avoid During Flu Season

Germaphobes beware: a new survey shows three out of four adults leave their house when showing flu or flu-like symptoms, putting other people at risk.

Harris Poll on behalf of CityMD surveyed more than 1,800 Americans ages 18 and older who have had the flu or flu-like symptoms to reach these results.

“The fact that many people with the flu or flu-like symptoms are leaving home to go to the store, work or the ATM and are not taking precautions is creating environments that can infect others and spread what is a very underestimated disease,” Dr. David Shih, executive vice president of strategy, health and innovation at CityMD, said in a press release.

According to the survey, those suffering from the flu were most likely to go to the following places:

• Drug store/pharmacy— 69 percent
• Grocery store— 43 percent
• Workplace— 39 percent
• Friend/family member’s house— 20 percent
• Restaurant/deli— 16 percent
• ATM— 14 percent
• Public transportation— 10 percent
• Gym— 8 percent
• School/daycare— 7 percent
• Party— 5 percent
• Other— 7 percent

The biggest offenders of dragging their germs all over town are parents and millennials, CityMD says. About 75 percent of parents with children under 18 have left the house the last time they felt sick, data shows.

Additionally, the survey says about 76 percent of millennials (ages 18 to 34) left the house the last time they felt sick, compared to 56 percent of people age 35 and older. CityMD even recommends avoiding millennials as a flu prevention trick.

The height of flu season, from late November to March, is soon approaching, so doctors recommend getting a flu shot in early fall or late October, according to the CDC.

Common flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to Nassau University Medical Center.

The best protection against the flu are vaccines. NUMC says about 44 percent of American adults and almost 60 percent of children receive the flu vaccine, according to estimates.

“This is why getting the flu shot is so important,” Shih said. “You never know where you can contract flu germs. And please, if you feel sick, wash your hands often.”

The Department of Health recommends that everyone 6 months or older receive a flu vaccination. The vaccine is especially important for people at high risk for complications from the flu, which includes children younger than 2, pregnant women and people with preexisting conditions such as asthma, heart disease and weakened immune systems due to disease or medications such as chemotherapy or chronic steroid use. Since the flu virus can spread through coughing or sneezing, it is also important that family members and people who regularly come into contact with children, older adults and other individuals at higher risk get a flu shot.

For additional information about influenza, including how it is monitored in New York State, visit the Department of Health web page.

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