When it comes to flu – Catch It. Bin It. Kill It
Milton Keynes University Hospital is urging people to ‘Catch it – bin it – kill it’ with flu levels on the rise.
During the first week of January, GP consultations with flu-like illness increased and, whilst flu hospitalisation and intensive care admission rates both decreasing during the same period, flu is still having a moderate impact on hospital admissions as well as intensive care unit and high dependency unit admissions.
To reduce the risk of spreading flu, use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often with warm water and soap, and bin used tissues as quickly as possible. The message to everyone is: ‘Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.’
Another way to beat the flu is to have the vaccination, which is still available at pharmacies and GP surgeries. Everyone is advised to take up the vaccination, especially those with long-term health conditions, pregnant women and two and three-year-olds. Flu can be serious and even deadly for older adults, very young children and people with underlying health conditions. Find out if you’re available for a free jab.
Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Head of Flu, Public Health England, said: “Uptake of the flu vaccine among two to three-year-olds is behind where we would like to see it, so we are calling on parents to get their children vaccinated as soon as possible. Current evidence suggests the vaccine is a good match for the main strain of flu that is circulating.”
Flu is characterised by a fever, chills, headache, aching muscles and joint pain and fatigue. For most healthy people, flu symptoms can make you feel so exhausted and unwell that you have to stay in bed and rest until you get better.
If you or your child are in an eligible group, make sure you get a flu vaccine. Learn more about how to avoid flu.
MKUH also advises people to ensure they access the most appropriate NHS services.
Last Modified: 2:25pm 15/01/2020
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