The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are doing whatever they can to prevent persons from getting the flu and protect those who have already contracted the illness. Many people might underestimate the threat posed to health by influenza, but the flu is nothing to scoff at. Various areas such as Boston have declared a public health emergency, and hospitalizations for the illness have become the norm, as have fatalities. Do what you can to protect you and your family with a few tips from the CDC.
The best way to stay safe is to stop the illness before it starts. This can be achieved by engaging in good hygiene practices such as washing your hands regularly with either soap and water or a hand sanitizer. Sanitization should branch out to include any surfaces you work on or come into contact with throughout the day. When you go to work or anywhere else in public, keep a respectful distance from persons who look under the weather. The flu is also far less likely to severely compromise healthy persons who exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, get ample sleep, and eat a nutritious diet.
But all of these things still pale in comparison to the single best impediment to flu contraction: a flu shot. Such a vaccine can make it so that the three most likely forms of flu don’t have a chance of invading your body. This is no guarantee of protection, but it’s the closest thing to it.
The CDC recommends that a flu shot be given to everyone older than six months, so if you’re reading this, you probably have no excuse not to get one. Especially susceptible individuals who could benefit greatly from a flu shot are young children, elderly persons, women who are pregnant, and those people who suffer from a health issue such as diabetes or heart disease.
Officials recognize, though, that sometimes all the precautions in the world won’t keep one from becoming ill. If an illness ever befalls you, you should keep yourself locked away from the general public until after your fever breaks. That means that calling in sick to work or school is essential. You shouldn’t run errands or go back to work unless a full day has passed since your fever went away.
The one errand that you should leave home to run is heading to the doctor. A medical professional can prescribe you antiviral medication that you won’t be able to find over the counter. These drugs can cut down on symptoms like fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and general aches and pains. The medication can also aid your recovery from the illness. If you contract the flu, seek antiviral drugs immediately to protect yourself and others.