Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs

Please see the attached sheet to help set up preventative measures on the flu. You can also go to the following websites- www.pandemicflu.gov and www.kenthd.org for more information.

More tips on preventing the flu can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm . You can also research more on the Swine Flu at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/key_facts.htm and at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm

The Kent County Health Department has set up a Public Information Line to help assist in any questions you may have, that the websites do not answer. You can call 410-778-1350 and push �6�.

OES is working with our State, Local and Federal partners to keep up to date on the current Public Health Advisory. As more information becomes available we will pass it along to you.

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.