7 Healthcast: Sick etiquette

The flu bug has been making the rounds lately, leaving many of us to decide whether to stay home or head to work with the risk of infecting others.

"If you're really sick, my personal opinion is stay home, because I really don't want to be sick," said office worker Alma Gailey.

Too late, Gailey had the flu last week. This week, it's Jamie McCairns, whose office looks like a drug store. She vows to work through it because she doesn't want to burden her co-workers with extra work, but she may be burdening them with something else.

"Every time you sneeze you're actually transmitting the virus to your co-workers wherever you're working and so you're actually perpetuating the disease," said internist Dr. David Targan.

Dr. Targan wears a mask this time of year because people are most contagious the first 24 to 48 hours.

If that's you- stay home!

Steve Knebels says he doesn't get sick because he has several preventative techniques.

"I have a slight OCD with germs, so I have to wash my hands several times a day, open the bathroom door with toilet paper just so that I don't catch what everyone else has," Knebel said.

Frequent hand washing and use of antibacterial gels are the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from getting sick.

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