Thursday morning on Daybreak, Jeff and Dale talked to Lydia Buchheit, RN, Public Health Nurse and Manager at Mason County Public Health about flu season. Buchheit said flu activity is early this year and is picking up. The usual flu season in Washington is February.
 
Buchheit talked about the following with Jeff and Dale:
 

• Children, pregnant women and seniors are at the greatest risk but that is why we all need to help protect them by doing prevention and everyone getting a flu shot.
• Flu can be serious even in healthy people&6 months and older should get an annual flu shot.
• Family around a new infant, people with certain medical conditions like Asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease and neurologic conditions are high risk for complications.
• Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, fatigue, headache.  Some people may have vomiting or diarrhea though that is more common for children than adults.
• It does take about two weeks after being vaccinated to be fully protected.  Children under nine need two doses four weeks apart for protection.  The flu mist is administered internasally to ages 2-49 and is helpful for those who would prefer not to have an injection.
• The vaccine this year is well matched to the strains that are spreading and also contains the H1N1 (Avian) flu strain.
• The flu virus is spread by droplets from the mouth or nose while coughing, sneezing or talking.  They can land in the mouth or nose of people nearby.  It can also spread by touching a surface with the virus on it and then touching their nose, mouth or eyes.  It can be spread before someone even knows they are ill.
• The best way to avoid the flu is get your flu shot, wash your hands, cover your cough and stay home if you are sick.
• Vaccination is available at your medical provider, pharmacies in local grocery stores and often in malls.

Visit the Mason County Health Page/Seasonal Flu for further information.

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