Forget swine flu. This summer's deadliest threat? Flip-flops (and I ain't talkin' politics)

Ladies grab a can of Lysol and prepare to be totally grossed out.

Your flip-flops? They contain thousands of nasty, literally sickening, bacteria (including the potentially lethal germ Staphylococcus aureus). You can get all the gory, disgusting details in this charming article titled "Can your flip-flops kill you?" (which has NOTHING to do with politics) courtesy of the staff of the TODAY Show and "the University of Miami emergency mobile flip-flop lab." (Thanks for NOTHING, TODAY Show. Slow news day? Though I did enjoy the Nora the Piano-Playing Cat segment.)

The good news: “As long as your skin is intact, as long as you use common sense and don’t knowingly expose yourself ... you shouldn’t be alarmed,” said Dr. Lisa Plano, a microbiologist at the University of Miami. Gee, thanks, Dr. Lisa.

To prevent illness and/or infection, the article offers the following advice: try to avoid wearing flip-flops in places where you are likely to come in contact with animal feces; leave flip-flops at the door; consider giving your flip-flops a good spraying with Lysol when you've been walking on city streets; and wash your hands AND feet as soon as you get in your house or apartment (or after disinfecting your flip-flops).

As for me, I will be the one wearing those disposable blue sanitary booties they give hospital workers over all my shoes now.