One more question on the shoe thing. What about a diabetic. If they pick up an infection on their foot it could have devastating consequences such as amputation. What in hell is the TSA thinking?

There are people from all over the world - potentially bringing in organisms not normally found in the US, which may be resistant to almost any antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this country.

What harm is there to letting someone sit down, take off their shoes, and put the shoes through the x ray the same as they would be screened if the person took them off before entering the WTMD.

I just don't get it and I would hope that the CDC will step up and make a public health recommendation. But I guess I shouldn't hold my breath waiting.

Oh, and by the way, I carry (but now I can't on the plane) hand disinfectant gel - to use when I touch an item that may be dirty and/or contaminated. But since I can't carry this on with me now, I can't even have the security of putting that on my feet.