Avoid Diseases at Christmas!

Europe is being hit hard by the very contagious whooping cough (pertussis), also called the "100-day cough". That sounds pretty grim, and thankfully it isn't in the U.S. - yet.

Here are some commonsense tips for staying safe:

Has the ‘100-day cough’ come to the US? Experts reveal how to stay safe this holiday season 

"Though whooping cough cases have not been rising in the US, it’s always a good idea to practice good hygiene and minimize contact with others during the winter season, according to Dr. Bruce Hirsch — especially as COVID cases have risen nearly 30% recently.

"'The holidays are a great time to get infected,' Hirsch, infectious disease specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y., told The Post.

“'If your cousin is coughing his head off at the dinner table, I would avoid that person,' Hirsch said.

"'It’s a good idea to touch elbows instead of shaking hands,' he added, noting that extra precautions are in order 'if there’s someone who is frail, elderly or on medication to suppress their immune systems.'

"Hirsch warns that 'pertussis is one of the more dangerous conditions that can be fatal in a newborn,' though 'it causes a miserable infection at any age.'"