Don't Let The Flu Bug You!
The flu season is officially underway. Individuals who received their flu vaccine at least two weeks ago can breathe a sigh of relief, because it takes about two weeks to build immunity. You need the vaccine each year because the influenza virus changes, sometimes significantly, from year to year. And flu seasons are unpredictable- each year the timing, severity, and length of the epidemic varies. Flu activity commonly peaks in January and February. However, the flu virus can cause illness from October to May.
Vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent the flu and avoid spreading it to people at high risk of flu-related complications. Flu viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. They may spread when people touch something covered with infected droplets, then touch their nose, eyes, or mouth. People who have the flu can spread it to others one day before they become sick, and up to seven days after developing symptoms.
TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FLU:
Wash hands often with warm water and soap, or alcohol based hand gel.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow-Not your hands- to prevent others from getting sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth- germs spread this way.
Stay home if you are sick (fever and cough; fever and sore throat).
Stay home from work, school, child care, until you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Practice good health habits: get plenty of sleep; manage your stress; be physically active; drink a lot of fluids, eat nutritious food.
It is not too late to get your flu vaccine. There is still time to build immunity before your holiday traveling or hosting company.
Contact your doctor for information, or go to Flu Vaccine Finder at http://www.flu.gov; or www.health.ri.gov/flu/.
Source: www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/prevention
Is it a cold or the flu??? To compare symptoms click on the cartoon below.
Vaccines are one of the best ways to prevent the flu and avoid spreading it to people at high risk of flu-related complications. Flu viruses spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. They may spread when people touch something covered with infected droplets, then touch their nose, eyes, or mouth. People who have the flu can spread it to others one day before they become sick, and up to seven days after developing symptoms.
TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FLU:
Wash hands often with warm water and soap, or alcohol based hand gel.
Cough or sneeze into your elbow-Not your hands- to prevent others from getting sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, mouth- germs spread this way.
Stay home if you are sick (fever and cough; fever and sore throat).
Stay home from work, school, child care, until you have been fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine.
Practice good health habits: get plenty of sleep; manage your stress; be physically active; drink a lot of fluids, eat nutritious food.
It is not too late to get your flu vaccine. There is still time to build immunity before your holiday traveling or hosting company.
Contact your doctor for information, or go to Flu Vaccine Finder at http://www.flu.gov; or www.health.ri.gov/flu/.
Source: www.health.ri.gov/flu/about/prevention
Is it a cold or the flu??? To compare symptoms click on the cartoon below.