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Next Steps

Prevention

• Hand washing with soap and water or an alcohol hand gel is an important way to prevent picking up a flu virus. Avoid touching the mouth, nose, or eyes prior to handwashing.



• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.



• Vaccination is the mainstay of flu prevention. The killed flu vaccine (a flu shot) should be given during the fall. In children, the flu vaccine can be given to children older than 6 months of age and in two separate doses for children younger than 9 years of age who have not been previously vaccinated.



• The flu vaccine is also available as a nasal spray (FluMist) for healthy children aged 5 years or older, adolescents, and adults aged 49 years or younger. Children 5-8 years of age who have not received the flu vaccine as a nasal spray before require two doses about two months apart. Children who take aspirin should not receive the live vaccine.



• Keep children with the flu at home while the fever lasts. Once the fever is gone, children may return to school and day care.



• For 2009-2010, two distinct vaccines are available, one for the seasonal influenza strain, and one for the H1N1 strain. Both vaccines are available in the form of a killed "flu shot" or nasal spray. Those at risk are recommended to receive both vaccines.