Staying Healthy Amid a Flu Outbreak
The Flu is an illness that usually includes sore, achy muscles; fatigue; sometimes a fever and a general malaise; and can keep you in bed for up to two weeks. This season, the news contains daily stories of this year’s flu epidemic, which is one of the deadliest strains in years. Read on to find out how you can remain healthy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (a well-established and highly esteemed U.S. government agency), “Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death.”*2
The flu affects the nose and mouth and possibly the lungs. The CDC states that symptoms include many (but not necessarily all of) the following: cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, sometime a fever or fever and chills, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhea. It is spread by direct contact, such as touching something upon which an infected person has coughed or sneezed. The symptoms usually come on 1 to 4 days after the exposure, and begin suddenly.
So, how do you avoid getting sick? Doctor Adrian Cotton states in a National Public Radio interview*1: “the No. 1 thing people can do is wash their hands, wash their hands and wash their hands. Stay away from people that have active flu-like symptoms, which is fevers, chills, heavy cough. But washing hands is probably the biggest thing that can be done. And then No. 2 is get the influenza vaccine. And then the third thing we’re telling people is if you think you have the flu, please don’t go to the emergency room. Please find – call your primary care doctor and go see them first. And, you know, save the emergency room for if you’re really, really sick.”
Remember that the disease is contagious before you begin to feel its symptoms, so it’s especially important to wash your hands and the hands of the children in your care frequently. Toys, pacifiers, or anything a child puts in his or her mouth should be washed before and after use. Water with soap will remove the germs. Water with a few drops of bleach will kill the germs, as will anti-bacterial gel. It’s a good idea to carry hand wipes or antibacterial gel with you when you go out, and avoid direct contact with countertops and door handles when possible by using a clean paper towel in between the surface and your hand, or simply not touching what you don’t really need to. If you do touch a common surface, such as a door handle, be sure not to touch your eyes, nose, mouth or food until you’ve washed your hands thoroughly.
Other great articles about the flu epidemic:
“Planes and the flu: 6 things to know to help you stay healthy while flying” By ABC News, Jan 18, 2018, 7:41 AM ET, http://abcnews.go.com/Health/planes-flu-things-stay-healthy-flying/story?id=52418032
“TIPS: How to Stay Healthy this Flu Season” ABC Channel 15 Arizona, by Cameron Polom, Jan 12, 2018, 6:23 PM, https://www.abc15.com/news/state/tips-how-to-stay-healthy-this-flu-season
Citations:
*1 Kelly McEvers, NPR Southern California Public Radio, transcribed by Verb8tm, Inc., Heard on All Things Considered, January 16, 20184:34 PM ET, “As Flu Season Strains Hospitals, Doctor Offers Advice For How To Stay Healthy” https://www.npr.org/2018/01/16/578422409/as-flu-season-strains-hospitals-doctor-offers-advice-for-how-to-stay-healthy
*2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), October 5, 2017, maintained by: Office of the Associate Director for Communication, Digital Media Branch, Division of Public Affairs, “About Flu” https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/index.html