Flu season still going full speed
Posted February 12, 2013 by Mandy Smith in Consumer Education
The cold and flu season is in full swing. If you haven’t already gotten your flu shot, it is important that you get it now. There is still time!
Certain people are at greater risk of getting the flu. This includes:
- Young children.
- The elderly.
- Pregnant women.
- And people with certain long-term medical conditions.
If you think you have the flu, some of the symptoms include:
- Fever.
- Cough.
- Sore Throat.
- Runny or Stuffy Nose.
- Body aches and chills.
- Overly Tired.
- And even diarrhea or vomiting.
If you get sick with flu symptoms, you should stay home and avoid contact with others. Most people with the flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.
If you have to go out:
- Wear a facemask.
- Cover your coughs.
- Use a tissue when sneezing.
- And wash your hands as often as possible.
Remember, it is not too late to get your flu shot.
How is the FLU spread?
Most cough, cold and flu viruses are thought to be passed from person to person by contact with respiratory droplets.
- Contact can occur by direct bodily contact (such as kissing) or touching something with virus on it (such as shaking hands with someone who has the flu) and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
- Respiratory droplets are generated by a person coughing or sneezing and can be propelled right into your eyes, nose or mouth over short distances, probably three to six feet.
- Adults with flu may be able to infect others beginning one day before getting symptoms and up to one week after getting sick. Children can be infectious even longer, sometimes up to several weeks. That means that you can give someone the flu before you know you’re sick as well as after you are feeling better.
How to help stop the spread of the FLU?
Best way to stop spreading the FLU is washing your hands often.
