Health Department Urges Residents to Practice Flu Prevention

(Mason City) — Throughout the state and in Cerro Gordo County, there has been an increase of influenza (flu) cases. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health is urging individuals to practice flu prevention.

The first step to flu prevention is to receive a flu vaccine. The Health Department still has a small supply flu vaccine available. “We will continue to purchase flu vaccine as long as it is available and the public is still in need of the vaccine,” says Karen Crimmings, Disease Prevention & Investigation Service Manager for the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends anyone over the age of six months should receive a flu vaccine. This is especially important for individuals who are high risk. These individuals include young children, pregnant women, individuals 65 years and older and individuals with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.

Individuals should practice the following steps to slow down the spread of the flu:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. This will block the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose that could contain germs.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with individuals who are sick.
If you or your children become ill with the flu, limit contact with others as much as possible to help prevent spreading the illness.
Individuals infected with the flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptomsdevelop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. This means you may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick and while you are sick.
Stay home or keep your child home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone except to seek medical care.