Flu is a serious Flu-like symptoms include: contagious disease ■ fever that can lead to ■ cough hospitalization. ■ sore throat ■ runny or stuffy nose ■ body aches ■ headache CDC Says ■ chills ■ fatigue “ Take 3” Some people also may have vomiting and diarrhea. People Actions may be infected with the flu, To Fight The Flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.

For more information, visit Department of Health and www.cdc.gov/flu Human Services or call 800-CDC-INFO. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

September 2014 CS251488-A CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu): # Take time # Take everyday preventive # Take flu antiviral 1 to get 2 actions to stop the 3 drugs if your doctor a flu vaccine. spread of germs. prescribes them.

■ CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and ■ Try to avoid close contact with sick people. ■ If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat most important step in protecting against flu viruses. your illness. ■ If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends ■ While there are many different flu viruses, the flu that you stay home for at least 24 hours after ■Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. vaccine protects against the viruses that research your fever is gone except to get medical care or They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid suggests will be most common. for other necessities. Your fever should be gone or an inhaled powder) and are not available without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. over-the-counter. ■ Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well ■ While sick, limit contact with others as much as ■ Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. possible to keep from infecting them. shorten the time you are sick. They can also prevent serious flu complications, like ■ ■ Everyone 6 months of age and older should get Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you penumonia. a flu vaccine as soon as this season’s vaccines are cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after available. you use it. ■It’ s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat people who are very sick with the flu ■ ■ Vaccination of high risk persons is especially Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap (for example, people who are in the hospital) and important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness. and water are not available, use an alcohol-based people who are sick with the flu and have a greater hand rub. ■ People at high risk of serious flu complications chance of getting serious flu complications, either include young children, pregnant women, people ■ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs because of their age or because they have a high with chronic health conditions like asthma, spread this way. risk medical condition. Other people also may be diabetes or heart and lung disease and people treated with antiviral drugs by their doctor this ■ 65 years and older. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be season. Most otherwise-healthy people who get contaminated with germs like the flu. the flu, however, do not need to be treated with ■ Vaccination also is important for health care workers, antiviral drugs. and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people. ■Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, ■ Children younger than 6 months are at high risk headache, chills and fatigue. Some people also of serious flu illness, but are too young to be may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may vaccinated. People who care for them should be be infected with the flu, and have respiratory vaccinated instead. symptoms without a fever.