How the Flu Spreads

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

Who should get the Flu Vaccine?

Vaccine experts recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older should be vaccinated against the flu. While vaccination against the flu is recommended for everyone, it is especially important for those at high risk for serious flu-related complications or those who live with or care for people at high risk. This includes:

Children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years

Pregnant women;

People 65 and older;

People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;

Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;

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

Health care workers;

Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from flu; and

Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).

When should I get the flu vaccine?

Get your flu shot as soon as possible once annual vaccine is available. Flu season most often peaks in January or February or later, so for people not able to get the flu vaccine in the Fall, vaccination in December, January and beyond is beneficial in most years.

Good Health Habits to Prevent the Spread of Flu

The state public health agency urges all residents to take basic precautions to avoid the spread of germs and viruses. In addition to covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing, other good health habits that can help prevent the spread of flu and other respiratory viruses are:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or use alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs often are spread when a person touches an object contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

Get an annual flu shot to help you develop antibodies to protect against flu infection.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from contracting your illness.

Stay home from work, school and errands if possible when you are sick. This will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Remind children to practice healthy habits because germs spread easily at school and in child care settings, resulting in high rates of absenteeism among students and staff in our state’s schools.

An STI is an infection that is passed during sexual intercourse.

Some STIs infect only your sexual and reproductive organs. Others, such as, HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis, cause general body infections. Sometimes, there are no signs or symptoms with an STI. The symptoms can also appear and then go away. Just because you don’t have symptoms doesn’t mean you don’t have an STI.

STIs can be spread during any type of sexual contact. HIV and Hepatitis can also be spread through contact with infected blood. If you think you may have an STI, get checked. STIs do not just go away on their own. Laurel County Health Department may be able to provide testing for you if you think you may have an STI.

Many STIs can be cured, but others cannot be cured. Even if an STI can not be cured, it must still be treated to lessen the chances of it being spread to others. If you think you have an STI, or you have tested positive for an STI, you must tell your sexual partner(s). If they have contracted the STI, they can get sick. They can also spread the STI back to you or to others.

Kentucky STI Program Webpage

CDC’s STI Webpage

Hepatitis A is a vaccine-preventable, communicable disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is usually transmitted person-to-person through the fecal-oral route or consumption of contaminated food or water.

Hepatitis A is a self-limited disease that does not result in chronic infection. Most adults with hepatitis A have symptoms, including fatigue, low appetite, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, that usually resolve within 2 months of infection; most children less than 6 years of age do not have symptoms or have an unrecognized infection.

Antibodies produced in response to hepatitis A infection last for life and protect against reinfection. The best way to prevent hepatitis A infection is to get vaccinated.

People at increased risk for Hepatitis A:

• International travelers

• Men who have sex with men

• People who use or inject drugs (all those who use illegal drugs)

• People with occupational risk for exposure

• People who anticipate close personal contact with an international adoptee

• People experiencing homelessness

CDC’s Hepatitis A Information

Kentucky Department for Public Health – Hepatitis A Outbreak Information

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). The virus is found in the blood of persons who have this disease and is spread by contact with infected blood.

What increases my risk for Hepatitis C infection?

• Having a blood transfusion or organ transplant before July 1992

• Having been treated for clotting problems with a blood product made before 1987

• Having ever been on long-term kidney dialysis

• Having ever injected street drugs, even once many years ago

• If you are a healthcare worker exposed to blood in the workplace through accidental needlestick injuries.

• Having been a baby born to infected mothers

• Hepatitis C can also be spread by sexual intercourse, but this does not occur very often.

Hepatitis C is not spread by:

• Sharing eating utensils or drinking glasses

• Casual contact

• Breastfeeding

• Sneezing

• Food or water

• Coughing

• Hugging or kissing

CDC’s Hepatitis C Information

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by tiny germs that are put into the air when a person who is sick with TB disease coughs, laughs, sings, or sneezes. Anyone nearby can breathe in these TB germs and get TB infection.

TB will usually affect the lungs of the infected individual, but it can also sometimes affect other parts of the body.

When TB is left untreated, the TB infection can turn into TB disease. TB disease can make you very sick.

What can you do?

1. Get a TB skin test at your healthcare provider or your local health department. The skin test allows the doctor to know if you have ever had TB germs in your body. You may be asked a series of questions for screening purposes before given a TB skin test. If your screening questions show that you have not been at risk for TB infection, you may not actually receive the skin test. You will however, receive the completed screening form in case your employer requires a copy to have in your employee file.

2. Return to the office or clinic in 2 to 3 days (48-72 hours) if you received a TB skin test. This is so the health care provider can read your TB skin test.

3. If you have TB infection or TB disease, you will need to take TB medicine as your health care provider says.

For more information on Tuberculosis (TB), visit the CDC’s Tuberculosis (TB) Webpage.