What is Seasonal Flu?

Seasonal flu (influenza) is a viral illness of the nose, throat and lungs. The virus spreads easily from person to person and can lead to serious illness and even death.

Symptoms are similar to the common cold—congestion, coughing, tiredness but may also include fever, achy muscles and extreme tiredness.

How is Seasonal Flu Spread?

The flu virus spreads from person to person when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. You can also get the flu if you have virus on your hands and then touch your nose, mouth or eyes. The virus can live for a few hours on common objects such as door handles or phones.

An infected person may pass the flu virus to others one to two days before s/he shows flu symptoms AND five to seven days after their symptoms appear.

What Can You Do to Protect Yourself and Your Family?

The best protection is to get everyone vaccinated. Depending on the age and health of a person, a flu vaccination is 70-90% effective in preventing the flu. Protection usually lasts a full year.

There are many places to get a flu vaccine: your doctor’s office and flu clinics at public health nursing clinics, senior centers, drugstores, and grocery stores. For more information on flu clinics visit the following websites:

• Sutter VNA & Hospice Flu Shot Locator
• Kaiser Permanente

Alameda County PUblic Health Department concurs with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccine recommendations on who should be vaccinated against Novel H1N1 (Swine) Flu. For information on H1N1 Flu vaccine recommendations, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

Take the following steps to protect yourself and your family:

• Wash your hands with soap and water or antibacterial solution often. Remember, “Clean hands save lives.”
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough. Raise your arm and sneeze into your sleeve.
• Stay home if you are sick and if your symptoms get worse, call your doctor.
• Do not send your children to school or childcare when they are feeling sick.
• Try to keep a distance of 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Eat a healthy diet, get enough rest; and make exercise a regular part of your life.

How do you care for yourself and your family if you get the flu? www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm

What is Alameda County Public Health Doing?

We offer FREE seasonal flu clinics throughout the county. Public Health also works with doctors, clinics, hospitals, schools, childcares, skilled nursing facilities and senior centers to make sure residents are informed about the flu and community resources.

For more information about these services call the Public Health Clearinghouse at 1-888-604-INFO.