The flu season is starting and has already been making news. More than one kind of flu virus will be spreading this season, including seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has a Web site dedicated to providing information about the flu – http://www.flu.gov.
If you get the flu, you can get sick and can spread the flu to others at home, at work and in the community. 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.
8 ways you can stay healthy at work
You can protect yourself and others by following these key action steps.
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet, exercise and relaxation.
2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are not available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.
3. Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes. Germs spread this way.
4. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of tissues in no-touch trash receptacles.
5. Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, etc.
6. Do not use other workers’ phones, desks, offices or other work tools and equipment. If you need to use a co-worker’s phone, desk or other equipment, clean it first.
7. Don’t spread the flu! If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home. Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea or vomiting. The CDC recommends that sick workers stay home if they are sick with flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
8. Get vaccinated against seasonal flu when vaccine is available in your area. If you are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications, you should receive the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available. People at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 flu complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, heart disease or diabetes).
For more information about priority groups for vaccination, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/acip.htm.
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