I wish I could have more empathy and not seem so rude when somebody near me says they feel sick

Last year, in the middle of winter (noro season) I was on a long distance bus trip and a little boy sitting opposite me was complaining about feel sick, and then v* all over himself and the seat. I instinctively shot out of my seat and moved to another part of the bus.

Ever since I've found myself very alert to people using the word "sick", and on more than one occasion I've mistaken similar words (like suck, or sock) that I misheard as sick. How embarrassing.