Influenza Information and Prevention
The following advice is from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services:
It is important that everyone remain calm, use common sense and continue simple good health practices like washing your hands. Swine influenza viruses are not transmitted by food.
If you have flu-like symptoms, stay at home and contact your physician. Symptoms include:
- fever greater than 100 degrees
- body aches
- coughing
- sore throat
- respiratory congestion
- and in some cases, diarrhea and vomiting
Also, influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people. There are many things you can do to prevent getting and spreading influenza:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.
Related Links
- Wisconsin's Pandemic Flu Resource for the most up-to-date information in Wisconsin
- Cases by Counties in Wisconsin
- Frequently Asked Questions Specifically for State Employees
- Posters
- Madison and Dane County Public Health Updates
- Centers for Disease Control H1N1
- Centers for Disease Control Travelers' Health Information
- World Health Organization H1N1
- Pandemic Flu – U.S. government site for pandemic flu information