If you visit the mall this festive season with your young children, chances are your kids could be exposed to the H1N1 virus by sitting on Santa's lap as bacteria and viruses can live up eight hours in clothing.
"If a child sits on Santa's lap and coughs and sneezes on Santa and the next kid coming along, if he touches that particular area, touches his face, eyes, anywhere, could spread the virus," a well known paediatrician has said. Santa's beard, hair, and famous red suit are where the viruses can thrive.
Many shopping malls throughout the country are taking heed to this fact and are starting to take precautions by placing disinfectant dispensers around the mall and around Santa. But even with all the extra precautions, the final decision is with the parents: they will have to decide if the Santa tradition outweighs the potential threat of the swine flu.