Flu season is here. Are you vaccinated yet?
* Tuesday 30 April 2019 *
NOW is the time to get your Flu Vaccination!
If you have not already had your flu vaccination, to protect yourself, your loved ones and those you come in contact with, it is important to do it as soon as possible.
“Our organisation pays for annual flu vaccinations for all staff and volunteers,” says Janna Voloshin, CEO. “We have a vulnerable community, and it is up to each one of us to do our bit to help protect our community members.”
Flu Season is Here
The government’s Health Direct website provides a graph of flu trends, monitoring the percentage of calls received that relate to flu, as shown here (dated 24 April 2019).
Their website states: “When the blue line is within the grey shaded area … it’s a typical flu season. If the blue line rises above the shaded area this may be the first sign of an increase in flu-like illness in Australia.”
How long does the flu virus live in the environment when it leaves an infected person?
You may think that the flu virus would not survive outside the body for very long – may be a few minutes or so and especially not on hard surfaces…
Prepare to be surprised!
Infection control consultant, Michelle Bibby from Infection Prevention Australia provided the following information from James Steckelberg M.D:
“Cold and flu virus droplets may remain infectious for several hours, depending on where they fall. Viruses generally remain active longer on stainless steel, plastic and similar hard surfaces than on fabric and other soft surfaces. Other factors such as the amount of virus deposited on a surface and the temperature and humidity of the environment, also determine how long cold and flu viruses stay active outside the body.
“It’s possible to catch the flu or a cold after handling an object an infected person sneezed or coughed on a few moments ago. But personal contact with an infected person such as a handshake or breathing in droplets from a cough or sneeze – is the most common way these viruses are spread.”
Avoid getting or spreading the flu
There are some simple things that we can all do to avoid becoming infected with the flu (or a cold) and to help avoid spreading viruses:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water (or with an alcohol-based sanitiser)
- Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes or biting you nails
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (or you can cough or sneeze into your elbow)
- Bin your tissues immediately
- Avoid sharing cups, plates, cutlery and towels
- Keep surfaces clean – especially frequently-touched items like keyboards, phones and door handles
- If you don’t feel well, stay away
- And most importantly – get your flu vaccination every year!
The more people who are vaccinated, the better protection we ALL have.