The flu has officially arrived in Maine for the 2014-2015 season. For more information, see the Oct. 17 health alert at: http://go.usa.gov/G6Vk
Maine CDC reminds everyone to take everyday preventive measures against the flu:
- Wash your hands frequently;
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or shoulder;
- Stay home when you feel sick;
- Get vaccinated.
If you have the flu:
- Stay home if you are sick, until you are fever-free for a full 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medicine.
- Cough and sneeze into your elbow or into a tissue. Throw the tissue away.
- Although most people can stay home to recover without seeing a health care provider, it is possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu. Anyone with the flu should seek medical attention for:
- Dehydration
- Trouble breathing
- Getting better, then suddenly getting a lot worse
- Any major change in condition
Flu Activity
Maine CDC reported sporadic flu activity for the week ending Oct. 25. Weekly updates are available online:
- for Maine: http://go.usa.gov/NoK
- for the US: http://go.usa.gov/ITB
- for the world: http://go.usa.gov/ITK
Flu Vaccination
US CDC recommends yearly flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older. It takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop full immunity. To find a flu vaccine in your area, call 211, search www.211maine.org or http://flushot.healthmap.org/, or contact your health care provider.
For more information about flu vaccine:
- Key facts about flu vaccine: http://go.usa.gov/yksA
- How flu vaccines are made: http://go.usa.gov/ykHB
- Vaccine recommendations: http://go.usa.gov/ykHw
- Vaccine information statements (VIS): http://go.usa.gov/jdAC
For more information, go towww.maineflu.gov or http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
