Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop

Germs

Fact Sheet

Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are

sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from

getting sick too.

Stay home when you are sick.

Stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.

Keep sick children at home. You will help prevent others

from catching the illness.

Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or

sneezing. 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.

Washing your hands and the hands of your children often will

help protect you from germs.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something

that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her

eyes, nose, or mouth.

Practice other good health habits.

Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress,

drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

There is no vaccine available at this time for the current outbreak of the Swine Flu

virus, so it is important for people living in the affected areas to take steps to

prevent spreading the virus to others. If people are ill, they should stay at home and

limit contact with others, except to seek medical care. Healthy residents living in

these areas should take the everyday preventive actions listed above.

People who live in these areas who develop an illness with fever and respiratory

symptoms, such as cough and runny nose, and possibly other symptoms, such as

body aches, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, should contact their health care

provider. Their health care provider will determine whether influenza testing is

needed.