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Flu Prevention and Preparation

The flu season is starting and will last through the fall and winter. More than one kind of flu virus will be spreading this season, including seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu.

If a severe flu outbreak hits our community, we all need to take additional steps to avoid spreading the flu virus.  Following are some steps you can take to be prepared. 

  1. Get the vaccine for seasonal flu.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly seasonal influenza vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu.  The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three (3) influenza strains that research suggests will be most common during an influenza season.  Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, kidney, heart, or lung disease, and people 65 years or older.  Seasonal flu vaccine is also important for health care workers and people who live with or care for high risk people to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk.  A seasonal flu shot will not provide protection against the H1N1 Influenza Virus.
  1. Get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine if appropriate. A new vaccine to provide protection against the H1N1 Influenza Virus is being produced and will be available in the coming months as an option for prevention of H1N1 Influenza.  For more information about the vaccine and who should be vaccinated contact Henry County Health Center at 885-8193. 
  1. Develop a Family Flu Plan
    1. Make a list of friends, family members, or neighbors that you can call on to run errands, or pick up food or medications in the event you become ill or are caring for a sick family member so that you will not have to go out in public.
    2. Make plans to care for sick household members or for children if schools dismiss students or child care programs close.
    3. Make a FLU KIT.  A FLU KIT should contain items necessary to treat flu symptoms, provide fluids and nourishment, and cleaners to disinfect the home environment to help avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick. If the flu hits hard in the community, over the counter medications such as           acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and Cold & Flu preparations may become harder to obtain. 

A Flu Kit could include:

  • Thermometer
  • Alcohol based hand sanitizer
  • Tissues
  • Pain and fever reducers: Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen (Do not give aspirin or aspirin containing cold and flu medications to children under age 17 because of the risk of Reye syndrome.)
  • Over the counter medications for colds and flu
      • Throat lozenges
      • Vitamins
      • Cough drops
      • Fluids for hydration such as water, fruit juice, electrolyte drinks
      • Household disinfectants (Such as Lysol or Clorox wipes) 
      • *Other items you may want to consider are face masks and disposable gloves.

 
Influenza viruses are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets such as occur during coughing, sneezing, nose blowing, or touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.  Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting. 

A person ill with Influenza can be contagious to others from one day before feeling sick to 5-7 days after symptom onset.  If you are sick, it is recommended that you stay home until you have had no signs of a fever (chills, feeling very warm, a flushed appearance, sweating) and your temperature is normal for at least 24 hours (under 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).

Also remember to cover your coughs and sneezes and wash your hands often with soap and water.  Use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available.

To find out more about preparing for the flu, go to www.flu.gov or www.fighttheflumo.com

By working together, we can protect our community while having a productive fall and winter.