The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates between 6 and 7 million people have been affected by the flu so far during the 2018-2019 season. About half of those affected have sought medical care for their illness, while tens of thousands have been hospitalized from the flu.
Each year, seasonal flu places a significant burden on the health of people around the country. In order to protect yourself and your employees from the flu, it’s important to take action through preventative measures, and recognize the differences between the flu and the common cold.
Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses. The flu typically comes on suddenly and can cause mild to severe illness, even death. Symptoms of the flu may include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Although most people recover from the flu in a week or so, some develop serious complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the heart or brain, and organ failure. Flu can also make chronic medical conditions like asthma and heart conditions, worse.
In general, the common cold is not as severe as the flu. Colds typically do not result in serious complications or require hospitalization. Sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, and a mild cough are general symptoms of a cold. In some cases, symptoms overlap and testing may need to be done to determine if it’s a cold or flu.
Either way, prevention is the key to getting through cold and flu season unscathed. One of the best ways to prevent germs from spreading is to practice good hand hygiene. Encourage employees to wash their hands often and to stay home if they are not well. Additionally, have your surfaces disinfected with Enviro-Master Electrostatic Spraying Service to kill 99.99% of germs in the restroom, offices, and anywhere else germs are lurking. Enviro-Master provides professional hygiene services so you can protect your business and your employees when it matters most.
#health #safety #coldandflu #protectingyou
