Dr. Mel Kohn, the director of the Oregon Public Health Division, recently issued a press release in time to remind travelers how they can avoid catching and spreading the flu.

He told us, “As the holiday travel season begins, avoiding the flu in crowded terminals, stuffy planes and trains can be a challenge. ... Airplanes, trains and cars are close quarters, but you can make travel safer with a few simple steps.”

I must nod in agreement.

And I didn’t know this icky fact:

The influenza virus is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes. The insidious virus can survive from two to eight hours on airport food court tables, door handles and those airplane tray tables.

First on Kohn’s list of tips to avoid colds and flu during holiday travel: Don’t travel if you have the cold or flu.

Yes, we all should be this responsible and noble, eating the nonrefundable costs for airline tickets, hotel bookings, etc. Real world: We all pound the cold meds and keep a low profile at the airport.

My favorite: “Avoid introducing germs into your body by not touching your face.”

Seriously. Who knowingly touches their face? I can’t explain how the spotless eyeglasses I put on in the morning end up covered with fingerprints by noon — or what happens to my eye makeup, for that matter.

“Wash your hands frequently.” Great advice. But soon after, we have to touch doorknobs and telephone receivers, and don’t get me started on those grime-covered touchpads for the debit machine at the checkout line.

“Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer.” Way to create a super-virus! It says right on the label:

Kills 99.9 percent of germs. So imagine how tough and invincible those 0.1 percent of the germs are getting!

Finally, there’s “Consider carrying sanitizing wipes to clean armrests and trays on public transportation.”

Well, that’s always a good start. It gets you noticed, anyway.

Why stop there? A pair of latex gloves sends the message that you take germ prevention seriously.

Wear glasses that don’t sit squarely on your face (one side much higher), assuring a slightly loony appearance. This won’t stop germs, but you’ll find that people tend to stand back.

Same with bringing a large oniony salad on board in your carry-on luggage. Sure, you won’t be popular; but that goes double for germs.

Happy traveling!