Advice from the Center for Disease Control

The news has been telling us about how sever this flu season is.  We don’t want to scare anyone but we do want to help prevent the spread of the influenza virus.  The Center for Disease Control suggests several basic steps to prevent the flu from spreading.  Take a moment to read the quick points below:

• Always get a flu vaccine every year. This is the first and most important step in fighting the spread of the flu.
• Stay at home if you get flu like symptoms. Only leave if you are seeking medical care or for other necessities. You are potentially infectious until 24 hours after your fever is gone.
• Prevent spreading germs by practicing proper coughing and sneezing etiquette
• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes
• Disinfect surfaces at home or work, especially when you know someone is sick. Door handles, counters, sink faucets and other common places that are touched should be sanitized.

We know that the precautions above are not a substitute for the vaccine but they can help prevent the spread of the flu. The CDC has a great website that has a nice FAQ about what you should know about the flu. Take a look and educate yourself so this influenza season will be a healthy and safe one. The website will also have links to show you how severe the flu is in your region of the country. You can also learn who is at risk of developing flu-related complications. For a quick overview, why not try the Flu IQ below so you can see how informed you are. The CDC has created this tool to help inform the public about the influenza virus and how to prevent it’s spread.