Flu season

It’s flu season and that means we need to take extra health precautions to stop the spread of influenza and keep ourselves and those around us safe. The following information will detail basic information for both workers and employers to reduce the spread of the seasonal flu in all workplaces. The most important means of protection, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the flu vaccine. Getting the flu vaccine will protect yourself, your family, coworkers, and members of the community by reducing contraction and spread. If you get the flu, the vaccine will make the symptoms less severe and even decrease the duration of the illness. This helps reduce the burden on our healthcare systems that are still responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each year the vaccine is revised to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be the most common this season. This year, all flu vaccines were designed to protect against the four viruses that are most common. For the most effective protection, everyone 6 months old and older should get the annual flu vaccine by the end of October. The flu vaccine is especially important for those at higher risk of serious flu complications. Those who may be at higher risk include young children, pregnant people, people with certain chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart and lung disease, and people 65 years or older.  

Aside from getting the flu vaccines, everyday preventive actions should be taken to reduce the spread of the flu:

1. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
2. If you are sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
3. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
4. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
6. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with viruses that cause flu.
7. The CDC recommends that people stay home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone except to get medical care or other necessities. Fever should be gone without the need to use a fever-reducing medicine. 
8. Improving ventilation can minimize the inhalation of influenza, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses that may be circulating.

Many people contract the seasonal flu every year and, in some cases, it can be very dangerous and even lethal. While it is known as the seasonal flu, the virus can actually be transmitted year-round; it is just more common in the fall and winter seasons where infections usually peak between December and February. Exposure to flu is more likely among certain occupations such as healthcare workers, however the above preventive actions are recommended during flu season for all workers. Because influenza viruses change frequently, worldwide monitoring by public health agencies is necessary to determine the predominant circulating strains. The CDC provides up-to-date information on U.S. flu activity, so if you have any questions or concerns visit: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

DII is your partner in workplace health and safety. Our team of experts can work with you to understand how to protect your company and workers against the seasonal flu. Please contact your DII representative for more information.  #FluSeason #CDC