Tips for Staying Healthy in Sick Season

Reminder to be prepared for flu season

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By Kate McPherson
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Story Created: Oct 15, 2012 at 6:31 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Oct 15, 2012 at 6:31 PM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - If you aren't feeling well, it might be because there's a bug going around.

According to Alaska health officials, there are clusters of respiratory illnesses occurring around the state.

It’s nothing to be alarmed about, says Dr. Michael Cooper, the Infectious Disease Program manger with the Department of Health.

Cooper says it's not unusual to get increased reports of respiratory illnesses from anywhere in the state at any time of the year. But it is a reminder to be prepared for the flu season.

Health officials say because the flu virus is slowly spreading it's a good time to make sure you and your family have received the vaccine for this year.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine each year. It takes about two weeks for antibodies to begin working to protect against the flu, so the sooner you get the vaccine the better.

Here is a list of things the CDC recommends:

· 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. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
· If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.

It’s also important to routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs, keyboards, and phones.

"Flu germs and a lot of other viruses can live on inanimate objects look around a room and it can live on anything for hours at a time,” said Dr. Cooper.

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Jon said on Tuesday, Oct 16 at 6:59 AM

In reference to a virus or other germs living for hours on inanimate objects for hours. Can someone be more specific as to the number of hours,4 or 24 or?

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Liam said on Tuesday, Oct 16 at 4:02 PM

Five years ago I started getting sick on a regular basis. It started with bronchitis and turned into pneumonia which I have had several times. I declared war on this stuff; this is what I do: My iron is low, so I take iron with vitamin C to activate it. I get a flu shot and wash my hands very often. The good news is that what I am doing works...most of the time.

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