Flu is a serious Flu-like symptoms
include:
contagious disease
■ fever
that can lead to ■ cough
sore throat
hospitalization ■
■ runny or stuffy nose
and even death. ■ body aches
CDC Says
■ headache
■
■
chills
fatigue “ Take 3”
Some people may also have
vomiting and diarrhea. People Actions
may be infected with the flu,
and have respiratory symptoms
To Fight The Flu
without a fever.
For more information, visit
http://www.flu.gov
or call
800-CDC-INFO.
August 2010
CS214209-A
CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):
# 1 ake time
T
to get
a flu vaccine.
# 2 ake everyday preventive
T
actions to stop the
spread of germs.
# 3 Take flu antiviral
drugs if your doctor
prescribes them.
■ DC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and
C ■ Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when ■ If
you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat
most important step in protecting against flu viruses. you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash your illness.
after you use it.
■ hile there are many different flu viruses, the flu
W ■ Antiviral
drugs are different from antibiotics.
vaccine protects against the three viruses that ■ Wash
your hands often with soap and water. They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or
research suggests will be most common. If soap and water are not available, use an an inhaled powder) and are not available over-
■ The 2010–2011 flu vaccine will protect against an alcohol-based hand rub. the-counter.
influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and ■ Avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth. ■ Antiviral
drugs can make illness milder and
the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness Germs spread this way. shorten the time you are sick. They may also
last season. prevent serious flu complications.
■ Try
to avoid close contact with sick people.
■ veryone 6 months of age and older should
E ■ It’svery important that antiviral drugs be used
get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the ■ If
you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC early (within the first 2 days of symptoms) to treat
2010–2011 season’s vaccine is available. recommends that you stay home for at least people who are very sick (such as those who
24 hours after your fever is gone except to get are hospitalized) or people who are sick with
■ People at high risk of serious flu complications medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever
include young children, pregnant women, people flu symptoms and who are at increased risk of
should be gone without the use of a fever- severe flu illness, such as pregnant women, young
with chronic health conditions like asthma, reducing medicine.)
diabetes or heart and lung disease and people children, people 65 and older and people with
65 years and older. ■ W
hile sick, limit contact with others as much as certain chronic health conditions.
possible to keep from infecting them. ■ Flu-like
symptoms include fever, cough, sore
■ accination of high risk persons is especially
V
important to decrease their risk of severe throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches,
flu illness. headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may
also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may
■ Vaccination also is important for health care be infected with the flu, and have respiratory
workers, and other people who live with or care symptoms without a fever.
for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to
high risk people.
■ Children younger than 6 months are at high risk
of serious flu illness, but are too young to be
vaccinated. People who care for them should be
vaccinated instead.
