How to throw a party and not invite the swine flu
It's a question of managing risk.
"Party. Party cautiously," advises Dr. Stephen Morse, professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. That means keep things clean, be careful with finger food, forget the punch bowl and maybe even reconsider the mistletoe.
"Just like we say with terrorists, you really don't want to let the flu win," said Dr. Shira Doron, an infectious disease physician at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.
Swine flu is spread mainly through coughing or sneezing, though people also can be infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. So common-sense rules apply for parties.
Do not throw or attend a party if you have a fever, cough or other flu symptoms. Keep your hands clean. Cough and sneeze into your elbow, a handkerchief or tissue. Take steps to make sure guests do the same. Party planners suggest placing bottles of hand sanitizer and tissues in plain view.
"Obviously, the nature of parties is all about mixing and mingling, and that's about the opposite of what people tell you to do as far as the flu season," said Jennifer Sbranti, founder and editor-in-chief of hostesswiththemostess.com. "But it's really all about taking some precautions."
For party food, think single servings. Avoid offering chips, candies, nuts or any food in big, open bowls that people reach into. "A hand going into a bowl is not a good thing," Doron said.
Instead, consider serving individual portions of hors d'oeuvres such as peanuts in little pleated paper cups or small appetizer plates, said Denise Vivaldo, author of The Entertaining Encyclopedia: Essential Tips for Hosting the Perfect Party.
Sbranti suggests serving crudités in little glass votive candle holders, salads in tiny Chinese food-style takeout containers or even french fries in paper snow-cone cups. Culinarymedianetwork.com chief executive officer Jennifer Iannolo said soup can be served in espresso cups and desserts in ramekins.
"I would recommend having fun with it," Iannolo said.
Covered food is better. Sbranti said hosts might want to plate and serve the food instead of laying out a buffet.
Either way, consider leaving the punch bowl in the china closet. Dipping used cups into a communal bowl is never a great idea, flu season or no. Ladles lessen risk, but punch bowls still offer a large surface area for germs to land on.
Doron suggests serving drinks from narrow-necked bottles. Sbranti recommends beverage dispensers with lids and side spouts.
Make sure your guests can keep track of their drink glasses. Party-supply stores offer wine charms, beer-bottle-bands and other options.
And don't expect miracles. Being in proximity to people – public transit, in the office, at a party – simply has inherent risks.
Maybe the hardest party trick for a host during flu season is simultaneously taking health precautions and making guests feel welcome.
Potential problems start at hello.
Avoid handshakes and perhaps opt for a friendly elbow bump instead, Doron suggests. Anna Post, an etiquette expert at the Emily Post Institute, said that guests who are leery of shaking hands can offer polite words instead, something like: "Excuse me for not shaking hands, but it's great to meet you." The same approach can be taken to avoid a peck on the cheek.
As for mistletoe, a kiss on the lips likely presents a higher risk for virus transmission than mere cheek kissing. Though Morse notes, "I think someone you're willing to kiss on the lips is someone you're willing to take a chance with the flu."
Michael Hill, The Associated Press
Safe snacks
Experts recommend single-serve party foods, rather than communal bowls of things like dip, this season. Some examples:
• Put nuts and other finger foods in tiny paper cups or mini-muffin cups.
• Cube cheese and put a toothpick in each piece.
• Set out shot glasses of dips and salsas.
• Avoid punch bowls.