As the father of six children, I know how challenging it can be to keep your family healthy during cold and flu season. This year, we must all be extra cautious to avoid contracting the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.
Because the flu can spread easily among people in close contact and H1N1 is more common in young people, health officials say it is especially important for those in school, day care or similar settings to practice good hygiene habits during the coming months. Common sense precautions to prevent illness include:
* Avoiding close contact with those who are ill;
* Staying home when sick;
* Covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing;
* Avoiding touching the eyes, nose or mouth; and
* Frequent hand washing.
Symptoms of H1N1 include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, body aches, and may include vomiting or diarrhea. If you experience any or a combination of these symptoms, contact your physician.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health has recently launched a new toll-free flu hotline. Kentuckians can call the hotline with questions about H1N1 or the seasonal flu. The hotline operates from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily and will be staffed by nurses who have information about flu and flu vaccines. The hotline number is 1-877-843-7727.
For more information on swine flu, visit: http://www.flu.gov or click the image below. Individuals can also visit http://healthalerts.ky.gov for information on H1N1 and Kentucky, or follow KYHealthAlerts on Twitter to be notified when new information is posted at the website.
Click on the links below to get the latest H1N1 news:
