Influenza is thought to spread mainly through person-to-person contact with infected persons.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends the following actions to stay healthy.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance to protect others from getting sick.
- Stay home when you are sick; if possible stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick to prevent spreading your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or use your elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- Clean your hands. Washing your hands often with soap and water will help protect you from germs. Alcohol based hand cleaner can be used if you are unable to use soap and water.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
- Practice other good health habits: Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Additional Online Resources
10 TIPS FOR FLU PREVENTION
- Update your immunization records.
- Get a flu shot(s).
Consult with a health care professional for health-related questions regarding your health and the flu vaccine. Remember the seasonal flu and H1N1 will be separate injections, which means more than one shot.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water-especially after coughing, sneezing, or using alcohol-based hand cleaners.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cough/sneeze into a tissue or the sleeve of your shirt/blouse/jacket, not into your hand. (Throw the tissue in a trash bin as soon as possible.)
- Stay hydrated.
- Eat a balanced, healthy, nutritious diet.
- Get adequate sleep.
- If you are running a fever of 100 degrees or more, stay home.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.