The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends these three steps to help you avert the flu this year:

1) Get a flu vaccine. A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Vaccination of high-risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu. People at high risk include children older than 6 months, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, and people 65 years and older. Vaccination is also important for health care workers and people who provide care to children younger than 6 months.

2) Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash. 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, as germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with a flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). Go out only to get medical care or for other necessities. While sick, limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

3) Take flu antiviral drugs if your doctor prescribes them. If you get the flu, prescription antiviral medications can treat your illness. Antiviral drugs can make an illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They also may prevent serious flu complications. It's important that antiviral drugs be used early, within the first two days of symptoms, to treat people who are very sick or people who are considered high-risk.

For more information, call a Johnson County Health Department educator at 913-826-1200.

Source: www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm