Flu usually presents with sudden onset of fever (temperature over 38º C) and cough or sore throat. Other symptoms can include runny or stuffy nose, limb or joint pain, headache, vomiting or diarrhoea.
Prevent spread of flu by doing the following at all times:
1. Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of tissues immediately as household rubbish in the normal way. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder, not into your hands.
3. If you have symptoms of flu, you should not attend College.
4. If you are at higher risk for complications from flu, get the seasonal flu vaccine
Persons who may be at higher risk for complications of flu include:
- persons with chronic respiratory, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease, immunosuppression (whether caused by disease or treatment), diabetes, haemoglobinopathies
- people aged 65 years and older
- children under the age of 2 years
- people on medication for asthma
- those who are severely obese
- pregnant women
Further Information is available at:
HSE– www.hse.ie