H1N1 Concerns Likely to Rise as Holidays Approach

The approaching holiday season is likely to feature a new twist this year as more people are concerned about the risk of contracting the H1N1 virus at social gatherings and during other such activities.

The British website Debrett's, which bills itself as "the modern authority on all matters etiquette, taste and achievement," offered some tips recently on how people can minimize the risk of H1N1 while still enjoying holiday social activities.

For example, the website's etiquette advisor, Jo Bryant, said in the announcement that a peck on the cheek can actually be better than a handshake from a hygienic standpoint because "people carry billions of germs on their hands."

Some tips offered by the website include staying home from holiday gatherings if not feeling well and to avoid offering unwanted kisses at office parties and other gatherings, whether mistletoe is present or not.

Millions of people are still waiting to secure H1N1 vaccinations, regardless of whether they have health insurance or not. With that in mind, basic precautions will be more important than ever this winter.

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