Flu Season & Tips To Avoid it

This flu season is turning out harsh
BUCYRUS — Chances are you or someone you know has been chained to the bed recently with fever, fatigue, sore throat and muscle aches.

That’s because this flu season is turning out to be a bad one, affecting more people than usual, starting earlier and covering a broader geographical area. Locally, Cynda Brause said it has been a concern.

“We’ve had eight cases in the past two weeks,” said Brause, director of nursing at the Crawford County General Health District.

She called it “an alarming number of reports.”
Brause said it is the worst she has seen since the H1N1 virus several years ago.

“We still have flu shots available,” Brause said.

Residents who want to schedule a flu shot can call 419-562-5871 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more info see:http://www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com/article/20130109/NEWS01/301090026/Harsh-flu-season-under-way

Whether you think you’ve got a shot at getting a flu vaccine or not, there are still steps you can take to help you avoid getting sick. That’s important, because the influenza virus (flu) affects anywhere from five to 20 percent of Americans every year. In addition, more than 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized from flu complications annually.

The Centers for Disease Control’s web site – www.cdc.gov – offers the following tips on flu:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.

• If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.