Prevent the Spread of the Flu

Action Steps to Prevent the Spread of the Flu

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective. Make sure that shared surfaces that have frequent hand contact (like keyboards, desks, door knobs, faucets, etc.) are cleaned before you touch them. Consider carrying your own supply of hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as this spreads germs from surfaces you may have touched. Do not share cups, food/drink, or eating utensils.
2. Cover your cough - cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue immediately in a trash can and wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder; not into your hands.
3. Avoid contact with others who are sick - try to stay at least 3 feet away from someone who is coughing or sneezing, or 6 feet away from someone who is known to have influenza to avoid airborne spread of the virus. This virus is also commonly spread by touching contaminated surfaces. Commonly used shared surfaces (such as door knobs, key boards, desks, faucet handles, counters, etc.) should be cleaned frequently with disposable disinfecting wipes prior to each use.
4. Get vaccinated against influenza. Everyone age 6 months or older should get vaccinated for seasonal flu each fall. It’s not too late even if the flu season has started, or you have already had one strain of flu. The vaccine will protect against multiple strains of flu that may circulate at different times during the flu season.
5. Stay home if you are sick with flu-like symptoms, until at least 24 hours after fever has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications. This can prevent others from getting sick, too. Ask a “flu buddy” to check on you and bring you food and supplies as needed. This will limit the number of people you might expose to the flu while you are sick. See your healthcare provider early in the illness to consider anti-viral medication to treat the flu.

What to Do If You Are Sick with the Flu

Influenza can range from a mild to severe illness, but most healthy college students infected with the flu virus will recover in 3-5 days without medical attention. If you are sick with the flu see the tips below on how to take care of yourself and to keep others healthy. Remember that you can spread the flu to others during the time period from 24 hours before you get sick until 24 hours after your fever goes away.

• Know the signs and symptoms of flu. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, flu symptoms can include runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, weakness, diarrhea, or vomiting. Make sure you have a thermometer available to check your temperature if you feel ill, and over the counter medications containing ibuprofen or acetaminophen to treat fever and flu symptoms. Make sure that you follow dosing guidelines and don’t mix different multi-symptom cold and flu medications.
• Stay home or at your place of residence if you are sick, except to go to a health care provider’s office, for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). Staying away from others while you are sick can prevent others from getting sick too. Ask a roommate or friend to check up on you and to bring you food and supplies if needed. Having a “flu buddy” will make sure you know who to call if you need help, and will limit the number of people you might expose to the flu virus. Call your health care provider for advice if you think you might need medical attention-students should call Lindley Health at 540-458-8401 and ask to speak to the nurse for flu advice.
• Stay in a separate room and avoid contact with others while you are ill. If someone is helping to care for you, wear a mask, if available and tolerable, when they are in the room. Try to maintain a 6 foot distance from others if you are unable to wear a mask. Do not go to class if you have a flu-like illness, until you are no longer likely to spread the virus. Make sure you contact your professor by phone or e-mail to let them know about your illness and make plans to make up any missed assignments, etc.
• Students who do not live in a private room may be asked to stay in Lindley Health infirmary during the time they are likely to be contagious to avoid spreading the flu to others. An alternative is to ask a healthy roommate to share a room with a friend for a few days until you are no longer likely to spread the virus.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue in a trash can and wash your hands immediately.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Drink plenty of clear fluids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, fruit juices and electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated.
• Contact your health care provider (students should contact Lindley Health) for possible anti-viral treatment if you are at higher risk for complications from influenza. People at higher risk for flu complications include children under the age of 5 years, pregnant women, people of any age who have chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or conditions that compromise your immune system), and people age 65 years and older.
• Contact your health care provider right away if you are having difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, feel pain in your chest, have sudden dizziness or confusion, severe or persistent vomiting, or are getting worse. You should also seek medical attention if your flu symptoms improve, but then return with fever or more severe cough.

For more information, visit the CDC’s website or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. You can also contact Lindley Health at 540-458-8401 or visit the Virginia Department of Health website.