Every holiday season, millions of Americans travel by planes, trains and automobiles to spend time with loved ones.

The holidays tend to bring people close together, which provides an ideal way for illness to spread.

To help travelers avoid the flu this holiday season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging people to take the following steps:

• Traveling only when they are feeling well.

• Get vaccinated for both seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 if they are in a priority group.

• Washing hands often.

• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve.

“We know that flu — and specifically H1N1 this year — is a big concern for people, but flu shouldn’t ruin the holidays,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. “By practicing a little prevention, people can enjoy their holidays and stay well at the same time.”

In the United States, seasonal flu accounts for about 36,000 deaths each year. Meanwhile, the H1N1 virus has claimed 4,000 since April.