In addition to taking personal responsibility for hand washing, covering your cough, and getting vaccinated (when appropriate), please take a few moments to encourage flu prevention among others in the Eastern community.  We must acknowledge the generous support of Cornell University Gannett Health Services in helping us create many of these handouts and posters. 

These posters are designed to download and print for display in your own work or living environment. Please hang the posters wherever they may be viewed readily by others.  Feel free also to include poster pdfs in e-mails to members of your department, school, college, community group, etc.

PREVENTION

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by the influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat, and lungs). Influenza usually occurs during the months of November through April.

Influenza types A or B viruses cause epidemics of disease almost every winter. In the United States , these winter influenza epidemics can cause illness in 10% to 20% of people and are associated with an average of 36,000 deaths and 114,000 hospitalizations per year.

What are the symptoms of influenza?  View the Differences Between Cold and Flu

How is influenza virus spread?

Influenza is spread, or transmitted, when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends flu virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus. The virus enters the nose, throat, or lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing symptoms of influenza. A person with influenza is contagious starting the day before symptoms start and can continue for up to 1 week.

What can I do to protect myself against the flu?

• Hand washing is the single most important step in preventing the spread of diseases. Since your hands come in contact with nearly any bodily fluid that you might have, not to mention other sources of germs, it is extremely important to wash them often. We all use our hands much more frequently than we realize and they come into contact with millions of germs a day. So, do you think you wash your hands enough?  Are you doing it properly?  This step-by-step guide will show you how to wash your hands effectively so you know that you are minimizing your risk.  View the Guide to Handwashing!

• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to help protect them from getting sick too.

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Covering Your Cough. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash your hands for at least 30 seconds to effectively kill germs. You can measure the time by singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

• Clean and disinfect your “shared spaces” more often than other times of the year. Remember phones, keyboards, steering wheels, office equipment, and other items used by several people during the day.

• Get enough sleep. During sleep, your body’s immune system goes into high gear to protect you from illness. Lack of sleep can reduce immune functioning making you susceptible to sickness.

• Drink more water. In the fall and winter, it is easy to overlook your thirst and get dehydrated. Make sure you consume 8 glasses a day.

• Listen to your body. If you are less than 100% you will feel better and recover faster if you let yourself rest.

• Finally, if you’re running a fever, please be sure to visit your doctor.