66th Medical Group offers tips to stay flu-free this season

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kerry Ciolek
  • 66th Medical Group
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Editor's Note: The 66th Medical Group offers the following tips and information to help avoid the flu. Additional information will be provided regarding flu shot availability for members of the Hanscom community.

What is the flu, and how does it differ from the common cold?
The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. The flu is different from the common cold in that people with colds rarely get fevers, headaches or experience extreme exhaustion, which are symptoms of the flu.

How does the flu spread, and how long are you contagious?
The flu is spread through coughing, sneezing, even touching. You can get the flu from the cough or sneeze of someone who has it, or by touching a surface with virus-containing droplets that someone with the flu has touched, such as a door knob, stair railing or telephone, and then putting that finger or hand in contact with your nose, mouth or eyes. People with the flu are contagious one day before their symptoms start and for up to 7 days after symptoms appear.

What are the symptoms of the flu?
The flu starts suddenly and may include some of the following:
Fever (usually high)
Headache
Extreme Tiredness
Dry cough
Sore throat
Runny or stuffy nose
Body aches
Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, vomiting, nausea); these are more common in children than in adults.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1. Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
2. Pregnant women
3. People 50 years of age and older
4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
a. Health care workers
b. Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
c. Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age, these children are too young to be vaccinated

To Keep Everyone Healthy, the 66MDG recommends the following steps:

Prevention, Prevention, Prevention
Wash hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based products to protect from germs.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and do not expose others to you or your family if sick.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread when you touch something with germs and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Stay home from work when you are sick as it puts others at risk, as well as yourself and slows your recovery.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve when coughing or sneezing. This will help keep others from being exposed to germs and getting sick. Be sure to throw away the tissues immediately after use.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits can help protect against the flu. 

Additional information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ or contact the Public Health office at (781) 377-8084 or (781) 377-2095.

Additional information on availability of Flu vaccine will be advertised soon.