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Flu Season

Although flu viruses can be found throughout the year, they tend to spread more widely during the fall and winter, commonly referred to as flu season. While the timing and duration of flu seasons can differ, typically, flu activity starts to rise in October, peaks between December and February, and can continue until May.

Flu Prevention

People are more contagious before symptoms appear. The time from when a person is exposed to the flu virus and infected to the time symptoms develop averages about 2 days. At the first sign of the flu, call your doctor. Early intervention with antiviral medications, such as Tamiflu, may be recommended by a healthcare provider to potentially reduce the duration of flu symptoms when administered promptly.

  • Get the flu vaccine!

  • If sick, limit contact with others to avoid spreading germs.

  • Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.

  • Discard used tissues.

  • Sanitize your hands.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, especially when someone is ill.

  • Avoid contact with sick people.

Protect yourself - fight the flu. get your shot, avoid contact with sick people, cover sneeze or cough, wash hands, avoid touching face, stay home when sick

Symptoms

Symptoms of the flu usually start suddenly, they include:

  • Fever
  • Aching Muscles
  • Sore Throat
  • Headaches
  • Feeling Tired
  • Runny & Stuffy Nose
  • Cough

People at high risk

Anyone can get the flu, even healthy people. However, those most at risk for complication from the flu include people who are 65 years of age and older, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic illness.



High Risk Conditions:

  • Age
  • Diabetes
  • Asthma
  • HIV
  • Pregnancy
  • Health Care Workers
Close up of an elder woman and the words "Fight the Flu, Get your flu shot!"

For more information about the flu, please visit the Centers for Disease Control about Flu.