EDITORIAL: Take precautions during flu season

Tifton Gazette - 1/7/2019

Jan. 06--With students heading back to school, now is the time to protect yourself and your family this flu season.

Flu activity is higher than it was at this point last year which was already classified as a high severity season across all age groups by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to the Georgia Department of Public Health.

Peak flu season normally starts in January and runs through late February or early March, though GDPH warns it can extend into May.

Flu symptoms and their intensity can vary from person to person, and can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. People who think they have the flu are encouraged to call or visit their doctor.

The GDPH recommend the following step to help prevent getting and spreading the flu virus.

--Frequent and thorough hand-washing with soap and warm water. Alcohol based gels are the next best thing if you don't have access to soap and water.

--Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing to help prevent the spread of the flu. Use a tissue or cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow or arm.

--Avoid touching your face as flu germs can get into the body through mucus membranes of the nose, mouth and eyes.

--If you are sick, stay home from school or work. Flu sufferers should be free of a fever, without the use of a fever reducer, for at least 24 hours before returning to school or work.

If you are caring for a sick individual at home, keep them away from common areas of the house and other people as much as possible.

If you have more than one bathroom, have the sick person use one and well people use the other.

Clean the sick room and the bathroom once a day with household disinfectant.

Thoroughly clean linens, eating utensils, and dishes used by the sick person before reusing.

To learn more about influenza log on to www.flu.gov.

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