Two Top Ways to Prevent Colds and Flu

Image Credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced its latest findings on the spread of the flu in the United States, and the states in which the spread of the disease is the widest.

According to the latest report, Maryland’s rate of new flu infections has slowed recently, after peaking in December. Maryland’s Influenza-Like Illness Level remains on the high end of the spectrum, according to Google flu trends.

This year’s strain of the flu is especially serious for the elderly and the very young, the CDC says.

According to the CDC’s latest figures, the flu is considered geographically “widespread” in every state of the union except for Alaska, Hawaii, California, and Arizona.

CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said that the country is about halfway through a typical flu season of 13 weeks, though other health officials have said it’s not clear whether or not we’ve reached the apex of flu activity for the 2014-15 season.

People often confuse the symptoms of a flu and cold. Fever, chills and body aches are more likely signs of the flu, says WebMD.com. Sneezing, stuffy nose, and a sore throat are more common cold symptoms.

Flu tends to be much worse than a cold, says the website, with fatigue that lasts for a couple of weeks and chest discomfort. And the flu, especially in children and among older adults, is more likely to lead to pneumonia and require a hospital stay.

Tips for Prevention:

Tip #1:Wash: Wash your hands with soap and do it often. Make sure there is soap at every sink. It’s also important to clean phones and keyboards regularly. Viruses such as the flu and the common cold are heavily present on these items.

Tip #2: Disinfect: Throughout the cold winter months especially, it is important to disinfect your home and office regularly. Spray down toilet seats, handles, door knobs, light switches, faucets and any other non-porous areas that tend to be touched regularly by many hands. This will greatly help to reduce the transfer of germs from one person to another.

Disinfect bathrooms and kitchen areas at least once a week by cleaning all countertops, floors, and contents with a disinfectant solution. Most times the kitchen and the bathroom are the two rooms with an abundance of germs.