Officials at the Arizona Department of Health Services have reported that influenza activity in the state can now be classified as “widespread”. What does that mean for you?

The classifications, such as no activity, sporadic, local, regional and widespread, come from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and indicate that area care providers are seeing an increase in flu and flu-like illnesses. For Arizona, recent laboratory confirmed flu has been found in at least half of the state regions, and those numbers likely represent just a fraction of the actual number of cases.

To be prepared for this growing flu season, think healthy! Here are a few tips that can help you survive the next few months without getting sick.

1. Get a flu shot if you haven’t already.
2. Cough and sneeze into your elbow/sleeve. This will trap the virus in a location that makes it difficult to spread. If you cough or sneeze into your hand, you can pass the virus as easy as picking up a phone or opening a door.
3. Wash your hands. Regular hand washing helps to keep the virus at bay. Get a pocket sized container of Anti-bacterial gel with a more than 60% alcohol content to keep with you when soap and water are not available.
4. Drink lots of fluids, especially those high in vitamin C.
5. Clean things that are touched often, like your phone handle, your door knobs or your refrigerator handle.
6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Recommendations from Mary Ann Yahl RN, BSN, CIC, Banner Desert Medical Center Infection Prevention and Control.

For more information, visit the CDC web site at www.CDC.gov.