Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. Every year in the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and; about 36,000 people die from flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.

What Can I do to Prepare and Prevent the Flu?

• Take time to get vaccinated.
• CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal influenza.
•  While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three seasonal viruses that research suggests will be most common.
• Vaccination is especially important for people at high risk of serious flu complications, including young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
• Seasonal flu vaccine is also important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to prevent giving the flu to those at high risk
• A seasonal vaccine will not protect you against novel H1N1.
• A new vaccine against novel H1N1 is being produced and will be available in the coming months as an option for prevention of novel H1N1 infection.
• People at greatest risk for novel H1N1 infection include children, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease.
• Take everyday preventive actions.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get the flu, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school for 7 days after symptoms begin, or until you are symptom free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.
• While sick, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
• Visit the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ to find out what to do if you get sick with the flu and how to care for someone at home who is sick with the flu.
• Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor recommends them.
• If you get seasonal or novel H1N1 flu, antiviral drugs can treat the flu.
• Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body.
• Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications.
• Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics.
• Antiviral drugs may be especially important for people who are very sick (hospitalized) or people who are sick with the flu and who are at increased risk of serious flu complications, such as pregnant women, young children and those with chronic health conditions.
• For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within the first 2 days of symptoms.
• Flu-like symptoms include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose muscle aches, and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting.

What is Clovis Doing to Prepare for Seasonal and the Potential for Pandemic Influenza?

As a City within Fresno County, the Fresno County Department Health Department serves as the lead agency in monitoring and planning for diseases and viruses such as influenza.  To date, Clovis has participated in tabletop exercises with Fresno County and other community partners to evaluate response capabilities and how to best utilize local resources to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.