Halloween candy bowls crawling with swine flu scares

SPOKANE -- The flu pandemic is in full swing and health experts are urging parents to take some extra precautions for Halloween this year.
Don't be surprised if you see some people donning gloves or using a scoop to hand out candy.  The American Red Cross says limiting hand-to-hand contact may be key to avoiding the spread of the flu.
Health officials confirm since last spring, more than 100 children have died from the H1N1 virus, including a 5-month-old boy from Pasco, Washington.
Officials warn whether you had the vaccine or not, there's good reason for you and your children to be extra cautious on their haunts this evening.  That's because of the microscopic creepy crawlers lurking in communal candy bowls.  Health officials say it may be wise to keep your kid's hands out of the bowls.
If the candy is wrapped, taking it out of a bowl should be fine.  But hands should be washed before consuming.  Officials say germs can live for 48 hours and longer on a wet surface.  Health officials recommend scoops to be used in the candy bowl to keep little hands from digging in.
Other advice from the American Red Cross include not allowing children to share masks.  Also, remind kids to keep their hands away from the face and send trick-or-treaters out with bottles of hand sanitizer.  And if you are giving out candy, hand it out, rather than have kids take their own from a bowl.