Flu viruses are mainly spread from person to person via airborne particles from coughing or sneezing. People can also catch the flu by touching something already infected with or containing the influenza viruses, then touching their mouth or nose. [2] That’s why frequent hand washing, especially as a health care worker, and especially after being with someone infected with influenza, is absolutely necessary to help prevent spreading the illness yourself. The most important step you can take is to get your annual flu vaccine.
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Flu symptoms include [7]:
- Fever (usually high)
- Headache
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle aches
- Nausea, vomiting (more commonly in children)
Could you have the flu and not even know it?
While systemic flu symptoms usually last from 2 to
3 days and rarely more than 5, the incubation period for the flu can last anywhere from 1 to 4 days with no symptoms at all. [2] This means you can be infected and not even know it,
passing the virus to others with potentially serious affects. |
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How can you help stop the flu from spreading?
Get vaccinated. [7]
As a health care professional, you do your best to keep your patients from getting sick...so doesn’t it make sense to stop the flu before it even starts? By making sure you get an annual flu vaccination, you can help prevent the spread of influenza to your patients and keep more people from getting sick.
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