How to Help Control
the Spread of Flu
This information is provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans, their families, friends,
volunteers, and employees. It describes ways to help control the spread of influenza (flu) within our homes and
keep ourselves and those around us as healthy as possible.
Get A Flu Shot: Getting a flu shot each year
is the best way to slow the spread of flu. The VA and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recommend that everyone age 6 months and older get a
flu shot each year.
Stay Home When Sick: Because flu spreads
easily from person to person, stay home when you are
sick. Studies show you are most contagious and likely to
spread flu virus to others for at least 5 days after your first
symptoms start AND at least 48 hours after your last fever.
Clean Your Hands: Clean your hands before
and after caring for a sick person, and after coughing or
sneezing. Wash your hands with soap and water or use
hand sanitizer. Sick people should clean their hands too!
Cover Your Coughs And Sneezes: Use
clean tissues and discard after use. Coughing or sneezing
into your sleeve is OK when you don’t have a tissue. Always
clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
Keep Surfaces Clean: Flu virus can live on
surfaces for up to 48 hours. Use household cleaners to
clean surfaces that are touched often such as phones,
faucets, light switches, countertops, handles on doors and
cabinets, keyboard and mouse, and TV remotes.
Wash All Eating Utensils And
Drinking Glasses Well: No need to separate
a sick person’s utensils or drinking glasses or do any
special washing or sterilizing.
Change Bedding And Towels: Clean
your hands after touching soiled laundry. No need to
clean a sick person’s laundry separately.
Avoid Touching Your Eyes, Nose,
And Mouth: Germs often spread this way.
Wear A Mask: When giving care to a sick person.
Avoid Getting Too Close: Keep at least
six feet away from the sick person whenever possible.
Separate a sick person from other people in the home.
Have only one person provide care for a sick person.
Know The Symptoms Of Flu:
(See next page)
Know When To Seek Medical Care:
(See next page)
Stop the Spread of Flu
• Get a flu shot
• Stay home when sick
• Clean your hands
• Cover your coughs
and sneezes
Common Flu Symptoms
■ Fever (100°F or higher)
■ Body or muscle aches
■ Headache
■ Feeling tired or weak
■ Cough
■ Sore throat
■ Runny or stuffy nose
■ Stomach symptoms (mostly in children)
If You Have Common Flu Symptoms
■ Stay home
■ Rest
■ Drink fluids
■ Take medicines for fever such as acetaminophen (e.g.
Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil® or Motrin®)
■ Call your healthcare team within 48 hours for advice
about what to do next
⊲ Antiviral medicines may reduce flu symptoms if
started within 48 hours of your first symptoms
WARNING!
Moderate or Severe flu symptoms are
signs of complications from flu!
When to Seek Medical Care
Call your healthcare team within 48 hours:
■ If you have common flu symptoms or
■ If you have moderate flu symptoms:
⊲ Not unable to drink enough fluids
(Dark urine or feeling dizzy when standing are signs
that you are not drinking enough fluids)
⊲ Fever 100° F or higher for 3 or more days
⊲ Feel better, and then get a fever or sore throat again
Go right away for medical care:
■ If you have severe flu symptoms:
⊲ Shortness of breath or wheezing
⊲ Coughing up blood
⊲ Pain or pressure in your chest when breathing
⊲ Chest pain, especially if you have heart disease like
angina or congestive heart failure
⊲ Trouble with balance, walking or sitting up, or
becoming confused
®Brand names included in this information are provided as examples only. Their inclusion does not mean that these products are endorsed
by VA or any other Government agency. Also if a particular brand name is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is
unsatisfactory.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
www.publichealth.va.gov/flu
www.cdc.gov/flu
www.flu.gov
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Public Health (10P3b)
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
publichealth@va.gov
September 2014 | FLU FS-8
This material is NOT copyrighted and may be reproduced
www.publichealth.va.gov/InfectionDontPassItOn