WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | Doctors weigh in on H1N1 Halloween concerns

Doctors weigh in on H1N1 Halloween concerns

By Shayla Reaves - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - H1N1 is contagious and doctors want you to know it. Still, those we spoke with said the flu strain is not enough for health officials to cancel Halloween all together.

While it is impossible to know what everyone does with their hands before you show up at their door, doctors say if you go trick-or-treating, stay alert. That includes paying attention to symptoms of sickness like sneezing or coughing.

"If they have had the flu or someone in their family has had the flu in the last 24 to 48 hours ... they probably want to be more conscience about who is going to hand out candy," said Dr. Henry Spiller, director of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center. "Put it in a bowl with a sign that says you know take one and have the kids take their own. That way they can open up the bag and it comes out without them having to individually hand it out."

"Should we keep from doing stuff we do all the time, like going to school and going to the mall and going to work and going trick-or- treating? No, absolutely not," said Dr. Matthew Zahn with the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness.

Still, Zahn offered this advice over health concerns that parents should consider. "You shouldn't go trick or treating if you're sick. If your child is sick they shouldn't go trick or treating. If you're sick you shouldn't be handing out candy."

Already H1N1 cases have been reported in Kentuckiana. Jason Baker plans to get the injectable vaccine for himself and his kids once made available.

"We have four children. We are through with the child-bearing, thank goodness. We are in the risk categories so we are concerned, but not overly," Baker said of himself and his wife.

Janet Hazelwood knows the impact of H1N1 firsthand.

"My granddaughter had swine flu and I helped take care of her and the baby while she had it," said Hazelwood. It didn't concern me; my concern was helping to take care of her. I didn't catch it and the baby didn't catch it."

Hazelwood said symptoms included fever, sore throat and cough. However, Hazelwood said she has no plans to cut off trick-or-treating.

"Have the kids wash their hands a lot," said the grandmother. "I don't think there is a whole lot of worry to me about it."

More than H1N1, Zahn said the biggest risk to public health is all of the candy kids will be eating this Halloween.

Whether or not you go trick-or-treating is really up to you and your family. Doctors tell us if you're worried consider staying at home, but if you go you should be extra vigilant.

Metro Health officials tell us just ordered the injectable H1N1 vaccine Wednesday and it could take a week to ten days to get it here. That means it could take until early November before the vaccine is available to you.

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