Flu season is starting and lasts through fall and winter. More than one kind of flu virus are spreading this season, including seasonal flu and the 2009 H1N1 flu. If you get the flu, you can get sick and can spread the flu to others at home, work and in the community. Symptoms of flu include fever or chills, cough, sore throat and may include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
CDC recommends that you stay home if you're sick until at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
Plan to care for your kids if schools dismiss students.
Have fever-reducing medicines that contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen; alcohol-based hand cleaners; tissues; and other items that may be useful on hand so you need not go out in public while you are sick.
To find out more, go to www.flu.gov or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).
You should get the 2009 H1N1 flu vaccine when it becomes available if you're at higher risk for complications. People at higher risk for such complications include pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. For more information about priority groups for vaccination, click here.
Children should seek urgent medical attention if they experience fast breathing or trouble breathing; bluish or gray skin color; not drinking enough fluids; severe or persistent vomiting; not waking up or not interacting; being so irritable that they don't want to be held; or if flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
Adults should seek urgent medical attention if they experience difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen; sudden dizziness; confusion; severe or persistent vomiting; or if flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle through rest, diet and exercise. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner if soap and water are unavailable. Wash your hands after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Avoid touching your nose, mouth, and eyes and keep frequently touched common surfaces clean.
NEW! H1N1 vaccine is available in all of our New York and Pennsylvania pharmacies! Call your pharmacist for details, and see the schedule below to make your appointment.
Upcoming Flu Clinics Click on any of the states below for a list of flu clinics in that state, or View an Interactive Map.
