QUESTION:
Isn't there a danger of bringing illness on shoes by tourists?  
My dog caught an illness that was carried by shoes. 

        Mrs. Squicciarini's 5th grade class
        West Babylon, Long Island, 

ANSWER from Eric Holm, Researcher, Palmer Station, Antarctica
            Mon, 24 Feb 1997 18:13:38 -0500
            

I am sorry to hear about your dog.  I hope it was not a serious shoe 
carried disease.  I remember once when my dog got sick 
and no one could figure out where the illness came from.  
I am pretty sure no one bothered to inquire whether the disease used 
shoes as a vector though.  The illnesses that are commonly brought 
here by tourists are flues and colds.  Usually people on station will 
come down with these after a ship visit.  If we were ever able to 
document that the tourists were carrying these germs on their shoes 
then I think we would ask them to remove them before walking around 
the inside of our station.

Thanks for your question!
Eric Holm