Flu season is here and more and more people across the country are getting sick. The American Red Cross urges people to get vaccinated now and offers tips to help prevent the spread of the flu.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report for the week of December 29 to January 4 showed 35 states are seeing widespread flu activity, up from 25 a week earlier. These states include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Most other regions are also reporting a number of residents sick with influenza.
STEPS TO PREVENT FLU The most important step you can take is to get a flu vaccine. The CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine for everyone six months of age and older. Other steps you can take to help prevent the spread of the flu virus include:
Stay home if sick.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If that’s not possible, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. People with the flu can spread it to others about six feet away through coughs and sneezes.
Wash your hands often, especially after coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand-rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
“If someone has the flu they should avoid contact with others as much as possible,” said Rod Kopp, Executive Director of Montana Red Cross. “Everyone should also disinfect surfaces that are commonly used such as door knobs, switches, phones, computers and remote controls.”
DO I HAVE THE FLU? The common signs of influenza are high fever, severe body aches, headache, being extremely tired, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, and vomiting and/or diarrhea (more common in children). If you think they have the flu, contact your health-care provider.
You should seek medical care immediately if you or a loved one develop any of the following symptoms:
Fast breathing, trouble breathing or bluish skin color.
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen (adults).
Confusion or sudden dizziness.
Not drinking enough fluids, not being able to eat, or severe or persistent vomiting.Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
Children - not waking up, being so irritable that the child does not want to be held or is not interacting. Fever with a rash. No tears when crying or significantly fewer wet diapers than normal.
More information about influenza and how to help stop the spread of the flu virus is available on http://www.redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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