MASON CITY — Influenza activity is widespread throughout the community making its way into childcare facilities, schools, and businesses. In addition to the increase in influenza activity, norovirus (stomach bug) is also causing a significant amount of illness in the community. The Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health is urging people to stay home when you are sick to prevent the spread of illness.
“If you or your child do not feel well, it is VERY important to stay home,” says Jeni Stiles, Infectious Disease Nurse with the Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health. “This means you should not engage in any activities outside of the home.” Activities include staying home from work or school, no traveling, no shopping, and no after school activities or athletic events. You or your child may ONLY return to these activities after the following:
· You have been fever free (and all other severe symptoms are gone) for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducer. This means if you or your child had a fever today until 1:00PM, you may NOT resume normal activities until 1:00PM tomorrow afternoon.
· You have not vomited or had diarrhea for the last 24 hours. This means, if you were vomiting until 2:00PM this afternoon, you may NOT resume normal activities until after 2:00PM tomorrow afternoon.
People sick with influenza may be able to infect each other one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. This means that you may be able pass influenza on to someone else before you even know you are sick. People sick with norovirus (stomach bug) are most contagious when they are sick and for three days after their symptoms have stopped.
Officials with the Health Department urge you to prevent the spread of these viruses by practicing the following good health tips:
What should I do to protect myself and my family from the flu?
· Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds. Wash your hands before and after eating, going to the bathroom, touching pets, phones, or keyboards.
· Use hand sanitizer. If you cannot wash your hands, alcohol-based hand cleaner may be used if your hands do not look dirty.
· Stay home from work or school when you are ill, and encourage others to do the same.
· Stay away from others you know are ill. You are less likely to become ill if you stay at least three feet away from someone who is coughing or sneezing.
· Get the flu shot. The first line of defense against influenza is to get your flu shot each year.
· Contact your health care provider. If you experience flu-like symptoms contact your physician. Your physician may be able to prescribe antiviral medications for you to shorten the duration of the illness and prevent transmission.
· Clean frequently and appropriately. Some viruses can live up to two hours on some surfaces. Frequently clean commonly used surfaces, such as door handles, handrails, eating surfaces, toys, and phones. Commercial disinfectants or bleach solutions should be used. The bleach solution can be made by mixing ¼ cup bleach with one gallon of water. The bleach solution must be made fresh daily.
The Health Department is still encouraging those who have not received their flu vaccine to get one. The vaccine does take a couple of weeks to take affect so getting your flu vaccine soon is encouraged. Our Walk-In Immunization Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 10:00AM – Noon and 12:30 – 4:00PM. The Health Department accepts most major health insurances.
If you work in the medical field there seems to be no tolerance from employers for being sick. It’s all about the $$$ to them. No tolerance for missing or being late due to the other thing that is out of your control…bad weather and roads!!!
Greed! This big Pharma BS is a snake oil salesman banking on what ale’s you. The advances in medicine aren’t necessarily going to be available to you unless you have a million $$$. I’m thinking the oath of doctors is the most steadfast of all professions. Insurance is not.
A vast majority of employers frown on missing work for the flu. Ask yourself where are the vast majority employed around here. Well it’s not schools, hospitals, or office settings. It’s in the factories and the places that sell stuff. The paycheck to paycheck crowd. Who can’t afford the loss of income. Alcohol is a good astringent to forcing out unwanted hosts. Essentially what an antiseptic wipe is. Grandma always had a bottle of brandy in the cupboard just for this purpose.
Agreed. And the point system which is very unflexable is part of the cause. They need to change their policy. Unfortunately, as long as the have the bonus system you will not see a change. Money trumps peoples health every time under that system.
Sometimes people don’t want to face supervisor or manager annoyance over calling in sick.
That is very true. Management needs to change their opinion on this issue. That goes right back to the bonus problem. That is all they worry about. (The extra money).
Reports show that this year’s flu shot is not very effective; the same vaccine was only 10% effective in Australia’s most recent flu season. The problem with the flu is that the virus is changing all the time; the bugs are way ahead of us, so we need to think smart and strengthen our immune system.
The body’s immune response begins with enzymes in the mouth that attack invaders; and a healthy gut can also defend us against the virus. Your best protection or defense against any virus is to have a strong immune system; so decrease your stress, get plenty of sleep, and eat well.
It is just common sense, but you would be surprised at the number of people who will take a sick child to daycare or send them to school. Then of course you have the people that think their workplace can’t survive without them and go to work and pass around the flu. Stay home of you are sick people.
Prevention starts with a strong immune system, recommend starting here reading, https://www.naturalnews.com/, treasure of gems/info on this site.
Starts with the cough…strong headache… this be a bad one.