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Prevention

By Mayo Clinic staff

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends annual flu vaccination for all Americans over the age of 6 months.

Each year's seasonal flu vaccine contains protection from the three influenza viruses that are expected to be the most common during that year's flu season. The vaccine is typically available as an injection or as a nasal spray.

Controlling the spread of infection
The influenza vaccine isn't 100 percent effective, so it's also important to take measures to reduce the spread of infection:

  • Wash your hands. Thorough and frequent hand-washing is the best way to prevent many common infections. Scrub your hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds. Or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers if soap and water aren't readily available.
  • Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough. To avoid contaminating your hands, cough or sneeze into a tissue or into the inner crook of your elbow.
  • Avoid crowds. Flu spreads easily wherever people congregate — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you reduce your chances of infection.
Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. Seasonal influenza — Questions & answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  2. Key facts about influenza (flu) & flu vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  3. Dolin R. Clinical manifestations of seasonal influenza in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  4. What you should know about flu antiviral drugs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/antivirals/whatyoushould.htm. Nov. 21, 2012.
  5. Dolin R. Epidemiology of influenza. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  6. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  7. Influenza antiviral medications: Summary for clinicians. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/antivirals/summary-clinicians.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  8. Zachary KC. Treatment of seasonal influenza in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  9. What you should know for the 2012-2013 influenza season. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2012-2013.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  10. Preventing the flu: Good health habits can help stop germs. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm. Accessed Nov. 21, 2012.
  11. Steckelberg JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 30, 2012.
  12. Jefferson T, et al. Neuraminidase inhibitors for preventing and treating influenza in healthy adults and children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://www.thecochranelibrary.com/view/0/index.html. Accessed Nov. 24, 2012.
DS00081 Feb. 21, 2013

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