<!--quoteo(post=362499:date=Apr 30 2009, 10&#58;29 AM:name=JoeyandDavid)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JoeyandDavid &#064; Apr 30 2009, 10&#58;29 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&amp;pid=362499">&lt;strong&gt;QUOTE BELOW&lt;/strong&gt;</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->let me ask you martha.. and any other health professional that would like to chime in...but first let me let you off the hook at the start... if you don&#39;t feel comfortable in answering I truely understand.. but let me throw this question out that I have been mulling over the past few days.. ..about flu viruses and grocery stores.. how concerned should we be in flu season with fresh produce that is laying out (non packaged goods) is a simple washing suffient for lettuces and fragil produce.. or can the viruses not be sustain on such products..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--><br /><br /><br />[quote name=&#39;Peddler&#39; date=&#39;Apr 30 2009, 10:48 AM&#39; post=&#39;362500&#39;]<br /><i><b><br />I would say stay away from crowds (as best as you can), wash your hands, wear gloves if you feel better about it (like the ones that EMT&#39;s wear), carry small bottles of hand sanitizer and wipes like for basket handles @ the store, and follow the CDC&#39;s guidelines. <br /><br /><br />I will do mainly anything I want but will be more attentive and frugal with the CDC&#39;s guidelines.<br /><br />Later<br />Jim</b></i><br /><br />&lt;strong&gt;<br /><br />I think Jim is mostly right.  I think washing fresh produce is just fine.  I believe in GOOD handwashing (sing Happy Birthday twice or the alphabet song) and avoiding hugging, kissing, shaking hands.  I believe in carrying a small bottle of hand sanitizer in case you are in a place where you cannot wash hands.  It&#39;s better than nothing.  I am not wearing a mask unless in close quarters with a possible suspected case.  I think at this point, you would take whatever measures you did during the winter with the flu outbreak.  HOWEVER, if you live in the affected areas (NY, Ca or Tx) I would be more cautious.<br /><br />Hope that helps... <img src="http://www.cruisecrazies.com/community/images/forum/tr-emoticons/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":biggrin:" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />