The most concerned adults are seniors 65 or older, with 38 percent expressing concern about the H1N1 virus during the holidays (compared to 26 percent of adults ages 35-64). This same group “ along with younger adults “ is also most likely to change their holiday plans. Fifty-one percent of 18 to 34 year olds and 47 percent of seniors indicate they intend to change their holiday plans in some way as a result of the virus. Eighteen to 34 year olds are most likely to require holiday guests to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival to their homes (33 percent), while seniors are most likely to limit holiday travel (27 percent).

Proper health and hygiene precautions should provide more peace of mind to holiday celebrations, said JohnsonDiversey Vice President and infection control expert Dr. Jose Ramirez.

Holiday revelers can substantially limit their exposure to infectious disease this holiday season by practicing good hygiene, covering their mouths and noses with a tissue when sneezing and discarding the tissue immediately, or if tissue not available sneezing into your elbow and washing their hands often, Ramirez said. Facility managers are also taking steps to provide more hygienic indoor environments through effective cleaning and use of leading-edge disinfection products with accelerated kill times against infectious diseases such as H1N1, MRSA and Norovirus.

Source: JohnsonDiversey Inc.