Guard against flu this winter
A person with flu may be contagious one day before the symptoms appear and for three to seven days after the onset of symptoms.
INFLUENZA is a contagious respiratory illness which can cause mild to severe illness. It can also make chronic health problems worse or lead to pneumonia, for example, which in turn could lead to death.
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The flu virus spreads mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are close by. You can also catch flu by touching a surface or and object that has flu virus on it and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. A person with flu may be contagious one day before the symptoms appear and for three to seven days after the onset of symptoms.
It is never too late to vaccinate, even though it may take up to two weeks to develop sufficient protection for the winter months.
High risk groups include pregnant women during all stages, adults over 65 years, children between the ages of six months and five years and any person who had contact with anyone in the high risk group.
It is important to note that influenza is different from a cold. The key difference between colds and influenza is the very high temperatures one gets with the associated symptoms of influenza. People usually develop influenza suddenly. Symptoms include fever, headaches, cough, runny or blocked nose, body aches and tiredness.
(Information from ER24)
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