Autumn is here and along with it comes the flu season. This is a timely reminder to increase flu prevention measures and to prepare ourselves to enjoy the coming holidays in good health.
Although flu season begins at this time of year, each season has different characteristics compared to previous years. Scientists have found that new strains of influenza have appeared over the course of the last few years, requiring different preventive measures and the development of new vaccines to combat them.
It’s important to understand how the flu spreads to avoid getting sick. Either through the air, when a person coughs, sneezes or even talks and can be transmitted to others as far as 6 feet away. The virus can enter the mouth or nose of a person who is close and infect their respiratory tract: nose, throat and lungs. It is recommended to avoid contact with other people when you are sick, not going to work or school, preventing the spread of the virus in these environments.
Even though less common, it can also be spread by physical contact, as a person with the flu can leave droplets or contagious fluid on surfaces and objects they have come in contact with. After touching a surface contaminated with the flu virus, it can be transmitted to others who touch the contaminated surface and then touch their nose, mouth or eyes. In these cases, regular hand washing is recommended to remove the virus that may remain on objects and surfaces.
How fast it spreads depends on humidity, temperature and the number of people in the same room as an infected person. All these conditions in the environment can increase the duration of symptoms in a sick person and increase the likelihood of spreading the disease to healthy people.
Covering your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and avoiding touching your mouth, nose and eyes can make a significant difference in lowering the risk of transmitting the flu virus.
The best way to avoid getting the flu is to be vaccinated every year, as the constant evolution of the virus requires adjustments to the vaccines to cope with each new flu season. Vaccination is also the best way to prevent the spread of flu to family, friends and your community overall.
Find flu vaccines in your area by visiting vaccines.gov/find-vaccines or contact the NHCOA Resource Center at +1 (866) 488-7379.
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