Preventing Flu
- How can you prevent influenza?
- Vaccination: The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each fall. In the absence of vaccine, however, there are other ways to protect against flu. (Note: there is no vaccination for H1N1 Influenza A at this time.)
Antiviral Medications: Three antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, and oseltamivir) are approved and commercially available for use in preventing flu. All of these medications are prescription drugs, and a doctor should be consulted before the drugs are used for preventing the flu.
Other Habits for Good Health
Flu Information and Prevention Materials
The following steps may help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses like flu:
- Avoid close contact
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too. - Stay home when you are sick
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. - Cover your mouth and nose
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. - Clean your hands
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
- Podcast: Teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly.
- Ounce of Prevention: Tips and video for parents and children about the steps and benefits of effective hand washing
- Clean Hands Save Lives: One of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs.
- Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings
- Hand washing to reduce Disease: Recommendations to Reduce Disease Transmission from Animals in Public Settings
- Teacher's Corner: BAM! Body and Mind: Students conduct an experiment on washing their hands. They learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all.
- CDC TV - Put Your Hands Together: Scientists estimate that up to 80% of all infections are transmitted by hands
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
(Influenza information and guidelines have been adapted from the CDC: www.cdc.gov) - Avoid close contact