Winter has arrived and as the temperature starts to drop, you may find yourself laid up with a cold or worse, influenza.
Influenza, or the flu, is a virus that spreads quickly from person to person. Symptoms include fever, chills, aches, runny nose, a cough and stomach upset. The influenza virus affects your nose, throat and lungs. The flu is normally worse than a cold and in temperate climates such as New Zealand you are more likely to get the flu in the winter. The consequences of influenza infection can be very sever and include respiratory, neurological and especially cardiovascular events.
It is believed that the role of influenza is understated in the statistics collected relation to mortality. In the period 1994 to 2008 the average number of deaths relating to influenza is thought to be 457 per year. This rate rises as the prevalence of influenza increases.
To stop the spread of the flu if you feel unwell, stay at home until you feel better and follow the basic hygiene practices.
• Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds and dry them for 20 seconds or use an alcohol based rub
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Don’t share drinks
• Avoid crowded places
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then put the tissue in a lined bin.
