Seasonal Influenza (The Flu)

Email Flu Questions to: flu@vdh.state.vt.us

Who Should Get a Flu Shot?
Prevent the Spread of Flu
What to Do if You Get the Flu
Resources - web links, fact sheets and display posters

Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The flu usually spreads through the air from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. Unlike the common cold, the flu can cause serious illness and can be life-threatening. Each year over 36,000 people in the U.S. die from complications of the flu.

In Vermont, the flu season typically begins in December or January and may last through April.

Read our fact sheet, Is It a Cold or Flu? (pdf)

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Who Should Get a Flu Shot?

While nearly everyone will benefit from a flu shot, some people are especially be a superhero - stay home if you are sick! vulnerable if they get the flu.

With plenty of vaccine available this season, the Department of Health is encouraging all Vermonters to get vaccinated, especially those at high risk of complications from the flu.

People who should get vaccinated each year are:

People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:

Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday
Pregnant women
People 50 years of age and older
People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.

People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above)
Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Healthcare workers.

Contact your health care provider for vaccine availability, or use this on line tool to locate a flu shot clinic near you.

If you are a professional caregiver, contact your employer, or call the Vermont Department of Health at 1-800-464-4343.

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Prevent the Spread of Flu

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot each fall.

To prevent the spread of flu or any other illness that can be spread from person to person:

Cover your cough.
Wash your hands often and well.
Keep yourself healthy with rest, exercise, and eating healthy foods.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Stay home if you get sick.
Avoid close contact with sick people.

Read our fact sheet, Preventing the Flu (pdf)

What to do if you get the flu?

Flu symptoms can often be confused with the common cold, but the flu usually comes on more suddenly and is more severe. Symptoms of flu may include fever (usually high), headache, tiredness and weakness (can be extreme), dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body or muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (much more common among children than adults).

A person who is sick with the flu can spread viruses. That means they are contagious. Adults are usually contagious from one day before having symptoms to seven days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer than seven days.

If you start to get flu symptoms:

Get plenty of rest.
Drink plenty of liquids.
Don't use alcohol or tobacco.
Stay home from work or school to protect others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tisssue every time you cough or sneeze.
Take medication to lessen the symptoms of flu, but NEVER give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially fever, without first checking with your health care provider.

Call your health care provider right away if your flu symptoms are very serious.

For more information on what to do and emergency warning signs:
Read our fact sheet - What to Do if You Get the Flu? (pdf)

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Resources

Additional Influenza Information

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The CDC provides a broad range of resources and information about seasonal influenza.
Childhood Influenza Immunization Coalition
The CIIC was established by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases to address and improve the influenza immunization rates among children, and help to make influenza immunization a national health priority.