Written by CaymanActive.com
- Last Updated on Saturday, 12 June 2010 22:04
Whilst the threat of the 2009 Swine Flu / H1N1 pandemic has now been contained, Cayman still needs to remain vigilant. Understanding our enemy enables us to defeat it.
Influenza, commonly called “Flu,” is a serious, highly contagious, viral respiratory infection. Globally, even in a non-epidemic year, millions of men, women and children, especially the very young and old, contract the flu and hundreds of thousands die from this seasonal disease.
Hospitalized patients and those with chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease are especially susceptible to infection.
Flu symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches.
Influenza is primarily transmitted from person to person via large virus-laden droplets that are generated when infected persons cough or sneeze. Transmission may also occur through direct contact or indirect contact with respiratory secretions, such as touching surfaces contaminated with influenza virus and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth.
Adults may be able to spread influenza to others from 1 day before getting symptoms to approximately 5 days after symptoms start. Young children and persons with weakened immune systems may be infectious for 10 or more days after onset of symptoms.
Take action to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu:
1. Take time to get a flu vaccine each year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart or lung disease
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu
2. Take everyday preventive actions.
Follow these Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette Measures:
- Cover nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
- Dispose of the used tissue in the nearest waste receptacle.
- Clean hands with soap and water, an alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash after touching respiratory secretions or handling contaminated objects.
- If you are sick and entering a healthcare setting, inform the staff and ask for a mask if you are coughing.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get the flu, theCDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
3. See your healthcare provider if you have been exposed to the flu or have the flu.
Your doctor may recommend flu antiviral drugs. They are not a substitute for vaccination. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body, and which may prevent flu complications.
This information was sent to us by Kimberly-Clark Health Care, as part of a campaign to help reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Find out more at www.HAIwatch.com
Health & Fitness -
General Health
