Keeping Yourself Healthy

September 28, 2010

Coming Soon to School Near Your: Flu Season

What You Can Do to Stay Healthy

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

The swine influenza virus appears to be spread from one person to another. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food, and a person cannot get swine flu from eating pork products. As with seasonal influenza, Iowans are urged to help prevent the spread of swine flu by taking the following precautions:

When you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your sleeve (if you do not have a tissue). Throw used tissues in a trash can.
After you cough or sneeze, wash your hands with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand gel.
If you are ill with a respiratory illness (coughing and sneezing), stay home from work or school so you don't make others sick.
Avoid close contact with others who are coughing or appear to be ill.
Symptoms of swine influenza include fever (greater than 100 F), along with cough, sore throat, headache and body aches, and extreme tiredness. Some people have also reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. If you have any of these symptoms, contact your health care provider.

If you have recently visited Mexico or areas in the U.S. where swine influenza cases have been confirmed, and develop swine flu symptoms within seven to ten days after your return, it's important to contact your health care provider, and remind them to contact local public health officials.