As holiday season gets underway, here’s how to protect yourself and your family from respiratory viruses

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With Thanksgiving just days away, people across the United States are finalizing travel plans or racing through grocery stores in search of the perfect turkey, but there's another plan to consider ahead of the holiday season: how to stay healthy and avoid the mix of seasonal viruses in circulation.

Flu cases continue to pick up in most parts of the country, particularly the South and the West, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus are also spreading as many Americans hit the road and take to the skies this week, noted Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California at San Francisco — and they'll be touching common surfaces that may be contaminated and sharing air with infected people.

"A lot of people are going to be traveling at record numbers for Thanksgiving and the holiday period," he said. "That means that risk is going to be mixed in from all around the country."

While navigating a sea of strangers may seem intimidating for the health-conscious, experts say there are a number of familiar precautions you can take to keep from catching an illness from fellow travelers or out-of-town visitors this year.

Some Americans have continued to wear masks well into 2023, but many cast the practice aside as local jurisdictions eased COVID-19 guidelines. However, Chin-Hong said that wearing a mask on public transport and at the airport is still one of the best things you can do to prevent the spread of disease.

"I know we think about masking as something that people do when they don't want to get [sick], but if you have mild symptoms, wearing a mask is actually going to prevent other people from getting what you have, even if it's a common cold," he said.

Masking is also key in areas with limited ventilation and airflow, such as the stuffy jet bridges that passengers stand in while waiting to board a flight. Chin-Hong adds that masks should also be worn on flights, even if there is good ventilation, as an added layer of protection from people who are coughing and sneezing.

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner or meeting up with old friends, try to avoid gathering in crowded spaces, Chin-Hong recommends.

"The hole-in-the-wall bar is going to be a little bit riskier," he said. "But if you sit by the window, that's going to be less risky."

Handwashing is also a good habit to practice during the holidays, Chin-Hong said. If soap and water aren't available, a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can kill many germs, according to the CDC. It's also a good rule of thumb to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth to avoid spreading germs.

Chin-Hong said many Americans have become nonchalant about circulating viruses. In fact, about three-quarters of adults say they are "not too worried" or "not at all worried" about getting COVID-19 over the holidays, according to a new survey from KFF, and two-thirds say they are not worried about spreading the virus to people close to them.

If you're worried about spreading a virus, Chin-Hong said that testing — whether for COVID-19, the flu or RSV — is a good option that should be utilized more often, especially if you're headed to visit young, elderly or at-risk relatives, such as those with compromised immune systems or pregnant people.

"It's hard to go by symptoms alone," he said. "Getting a test is an important way to distinguish what's happening, particularly for flu and COVID. It's important for those at risk, because you can get early therapy that can shorten the course [of the virus] or prevent hospitalization."

For the first time, there are vaccines available to protect against COVID-19, influenza and RSV, and now is the time for everyone eligible to get vaccinated, experts stress.

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