Influenza Do’s and Don’ts

September 2009

Flu season is upon us, and the H1N1 flu is in our community.  Messages in the media have been frequent and change from day to day.  To help answer questions about what staff and their family members should do if they have influenza-like symptoms, (Insert name of local health care entity) offers the following guidelines:

General information

- Do get the seasonal flu vaccine (However, see note below about availability).  If you are pregnant, it is recommended you get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as possible

- Don’t expect there to be enough seasonal flu vaccine in the next several weeks for everyone who wants it. Suppliers have announced a delay in the availability of the seasonal flu vaccine. There will be enough for everyone – but not in the next several weeks

- Do clean your hands often with soap and water or a hand sanitizer

- Do cover your cough

- Do stay home if you are sick

- Do keep your children home from school, daycare, the mall, etc. if they are sick

If you have flu symptoms

- Don't come in to the hospital Emergency Department, Urgent Care or your primary care provider if you're generally healthy and you develop influenza-like symptoms, such as fever of 100.5 or greater, cough or sore throat, and body aches.  Healthy individuals with H1N1 infection do not require treatment with antiviral medication, and you risk exposing other patients

- Don’t expect to receive antiviral medications if you are generally healthy and develop influenza-like symptoms. Providers are not prescribing antiviral medicals in these instances – in accordance with guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

- Don’t expect to be tested for the H1N1 flu. You won’t be. Only hospitalized patients are being tested – in accordance with guidelines established by the CDC

- Do expect to be told – if you're generally healthy and you develop influenza-like symptoms – to stay home from work, get plenty of rest and fluids, and to treat symptoms (such as headaches, cough, sore throat, etc.) with over-the-counter medications

- Do call your health care provider, however, if you have flu symptoms and you're pregnant or you have a chronic disease, such as emphysema or a heart condition, or have problems with your immune system

- Do see a health care provider for children under 5 or adults older than 65 who have flu symptoms

- Do check with your employer or your child’s school about staying home and about guidelines for returning from an absence due to the flu.