Seasonal Flu – Current Situation; Prevention, Symptoms, Treatment

Get a Flu Shot

• The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year.
• Nearly everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exception.
• Some people cannot get a influenza shot, or should talk to their doctor before getting a flu shot.
• Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.

WASH YOUR HANDS!

• When and How to Wash Your Hands
• Why You Should Wash Your Hands:
  1. People will often cough/sneeze into their hands.
  2. They then don’t wash their contaminated hands before they touch various items (doorknobs, etc.).
  3. If you then touch this newly-contaminated item, and …
  4. If you don’t wash your hands before touching your food, mouth, eyes, or nose, then you run the risk of the germs getting into you!
  5. You don’t believe that washing your hands can help you stay healthy?  See the data.

Avoid Close Contact with People who are Sick

• If you are caring for someone who has the flu, follow the CDC recommendations.

If you are in an at-risk group for complications from the flu:

• Students: Follow the recommendations of your your health care provider; contact Res Life to see if there is a way to help mitigate.
• Faculty/Staff: Follow the recommendations of your health care provider; contact HR and your Supervisor if necessary.

1. Try to return home so that your family can take care of you in the comfort of your own home.

2. Or, stay in your dorm room and rest until you are healthy again.

• Stay home/in your room for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (except to get medical care/etc. if no one else can go for you).
  • Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.
  • Stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings during your entire illness.
• Contact:
  (1) Res Life/Dean of Students, or Health Services (3063).
  (2) Your employer(s) if relevant.
  (3) Your professors.
  • Your professors will work with you so that you can continue your studies once you are well again.

• Drink Plenty of Clear Fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks) to prevent dehydration, which is the most critical part of fighting the flu.

• SLEEP!! And try to eat at least some small portions of food throughout the day.

• Eat! But DO NOT GO to the Cage or Stav Hall since you only risk infecting others. Instead give your ID to a friend and they can get a to-go container and bring you a meal from Stav Hall.

Students:

• Contact:
  (1) Res Life/Dean of Students, or Health Services (3063)
  (2) Your professors
  (3) Your campus employer(s) if relevant
  • Your professors & employer will work with you so that you can continue your studies & job once you are well again.

Faculty/Staff:

• Please contact your professional health care provider

Read this link:

• When to Get Medical Help for Flu Symptoms

Flu is Contagious and Spreads Person to Person:

• Flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk.  These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby (up to about 6 feet away).
• A person can also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
• How Long Am I Contagious?  Even before you feel sick you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else.
  • Most healthy adults are able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
  • Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.
  • Therefore, it is prudent to practice proper health hygiene throughout the flu season to lessen the chance of contracting the flu and to minimize the adverse affects to others should you become ill.
• When Am I No Longer Contagious?  Once you’re fever is gone for at least 24 hours without medication then you are most likely no longer contagious.

To Limit the Spread of Flu:

• Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
• Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Your fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine. Until then, you should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.
• Wash your hands; use tissues.  This will lower the chance of you spreading your germs to other surfaces.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
  • Eating utensils can be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap and do not need to be cleaned separately.
• Frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at home, work and school, especially if someone is ill.
• Wear a medical mask if possible if you must be around others (e.g., when friends are delivering meals, or to go get medical care), or keep a 6′ distance so that if you cough/sneeze the risk to others of inhaling any airborne droplets will be significantly lower.
• Don’t contaminate things.  If you accidentally cough or sneeze into your hands then do not touch your now-contaminated hands to surrounding items; instead immediately wash your hands.
• Cover your Cough!!
  • Cover your nose and mouth.
  • Watch this short, amusing, and informative video on the proper way to cough/sneeze: Why Don’t We Do It in Our Sleeves.
  • Besides the fact that it is simply polite, couching/sneezing into your sleeve is the most effective method to lessen the chance of infecting another person.
• Cover your Cough — It works!
  • Don’t believe us?  Then watch “The Safe Sneeze” MythBusters video!