Published: September 30, 2009 08:06 am      

Better safe than sorry

The H1N1 virus has finally made its dramatic reappearance in the fall months of the year. Although the hype surrounding the initial revelation of the “swine flu” pandemic has pretty well died down, the Pontotoc County Health Department assures that it is a very real probability that you or someone you know could contract the virus.

To minimize the chances of contracting H1N1 or seasonal flu, however, there are some things they say you can do.

1. Minimize your personal contact with people if you or they have flu-like symptoms. These symptoms could include sneezing, coughing, fever and—in the case of the H1N1 virus—vomiting and diarrhea.

2. If you have the flu, stay home from work or school. If your kids have the flu, keep them home from school. While a lot of people in today’s work environment prefer to just work through sickness, a contagious illness like the flu can quickly spread throughout a company or a school. Determine if you can do your work from home and decrease the amount of people you come into contact with.

3. Wash your hands frequently. In the event that you are unable to wash frequently, use an alcohol-based sanitizing gel.

4. Exercise proper sneezing and coughing etiquette. Sneeze and cough into a tissue, your shoulder or the bend of your arm to decrease the spread of germs.

The H1N1 vaccine is being prepared to be released in Oct or Nov, but until that time, prevention is necessary. Try to be proactive in efforts to stay away from the H1N1 virus and the seasonal flu.

As Count Rugen so aptly said to Prince Humperdinck, while they were plotting the murder of Humperdinck’s future wife, “Get some rest. If you haven’t got your health, then you haven’t got anything.”

—Justin Lofton