3 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA - Your kids could be exposed to the H1N1 virus by sitting on Santa's lap this holiday season, warns a Florida pediatrician.
Dr. James Orlowski, head of Pediatrics at University Community Hospital in Florida, said bacteria and viruses can live up eight hours in clothing.
"If a child sits on Santa's lap and coughs and sneezes on Santa and the next kid coming along, if he touches that particular area, touches his face, eyes, anywhere, could spread the virus," Orlowski said. Santa's beard, hair, and famous red suit can all harbor viruses.
Shopping malls are starting to take precautions. Management at The International Plaza in Tampa Bay, Florida is placing disinfectant dispensers around the mall and around Santa.
But even with all the extra precautions, parents will have to decide if the Santa tradition outweighs the potential threat of the swine flu.
A Santa who lives in Cambridge, Minnesota says that 10,000 kids will sit on his lap this season. He plans to sanitize his hands after every visit with a child and wipe his face with baby wipes a couple of times an hour.
Elves will also have another job added to their toy-making list and that is pre-screening kids for the flu.
At Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania kids who are coughing and sneezing will be turned away.
By Wendy Poon, wpoon@news10.net
WTSP-Tampa, Florida contributed to this story.
News10/KXTV/WTSP-Tampa
