According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population will get the seasonal flu and 36,000 people will die each year due to the flu. The flu is not the same as a cold. With the flu, symptoms present suddenly and include fever, headache, cough, runny or stuffy nose, extreme fatigue, muscle aches and sore throat. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur, but are more common in children than in adults. Flu spreads when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes and droplets land on people nearby, or when people touch items contaminated with the droplets and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth. There are ways to kill the virus and minimize the spread of it.
Step 1
Clean surfaces such as counter tops with a disinfecting agent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists 500 disinfectants that will kill the influenza virus. The most common ones are Lysol, Clorox, Comet Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner and Mr. Clean Multi-surfaces Antibacterial. Follow the directions on the product for best results.
Step 2
Wash your hands properly. Wet them with warm water and soap. Rub them together well for 30 seconds. Rinse them under running water, then dry with a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Step 3
Use hand sanitizer. If you have touched surfaces that might be contaminated or shaken hands with someone and cannot get to a sink, clean your hands with hand sanitizer.
Step 4
Take an antiviral drug if your doctor prescribes it. Antiviral drugs are prescription medications that help shorten the length of time you are sick by killing the virus in your body. The CDC recommends that antiviral medications be used for people who are hospitalized and those that are in the high risk group, which includes pregnant women, young children, people over the age of 65 and those with chronic health conditions.
Tips and Warnings
- To prevent spreading the virus, cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it away and wash your hands. Cough or sneeze into the sleeve of your shirt if you don't have a tissue. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, since germs enter your body easily that way. If you do come down with the flu, stay home until you are fever free for 24 hours.
Things You'll Need
- Disinfectant
- Soap and water
- Alcohol based hand sanitizer
