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Flu Season Alert: It is impossible at this time to predict the severity of the upcoming flu season. If you choose not to received a flu vaccine, it is especially important to engage in behaviors that will lessen your chances of contracting the flu. What is the flu and what are the symptoms? The flu is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. The symptoms of the flu are as follows: * A fever. Usually in the range of 101-102 degrees, but may go as high as 106. * Sore throat * Dry, hacking cough * Muscle aches * General fatigue and weakness * Nasal congestion and sneezing * Headache * Intestinal symptoms are usually not associated with the flu. How can I lessen my chances of getting the flu? * Wash your hand thoroughly and often to kill or rinse off the virus that you may have picked up from touching contaminated surfaces. If soap and water are not available, consider using a hand sanitizing lotion, particularly before eating. * Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. These locations provide the virus with an easy entry point to the body. * Avoid crowds and give those who are coughing or sneezing a wide berth; the virus is easily spread in the air. * Keep up your resistance by following a good diet, get plenty of rest; drink lots of fluids and avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol. How is the flu treated? Young, healthy people probably don't need to be treated for the flu; it will simply run its course over a week's time. Never the less, there are things you can do to lessen the symptoms. * Some people may benefit from antiviral drugs. Consult your physician. * Antibiotics will not help the flu. Antibiotics will only treat bacterial infections; a virus causes the flu. Antibiotics may be prescribed if secondary bacterial infections develop as a result of the flu. * Treat symptoms with over the counter medications, rest and fluids. Multi-symptom cold medicine and Tylenol may be taken at the advice of your physician, but do not take any products containing aspirin. * Do us all a favor and stay home if you are sick. This is one time when it's not nice to share! You should not return to school until you are without a fever for 24 hours after stopping the use of products such as Tylenol and Advil. MRSA Information: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics. These antibiotics include methicillin and other more common antibiotics such as oxacillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Staph infections, including MRSA, occur most frequently among persons in hospitals and healthcare facilities (such as nursing homes and dialysis centers) who have weakened immune systems. MRSA infections that occur in otherwise healthy people who have not been recently (within the past year) hospitalized or had a medical procedure (such as dialysis, surgery, catheters) are known as community-associated (CA)-MRSA infections. Staph bacteria, including MRSA, can cause skin infections that may look like a pimple or boil and can be red, swollen, painful, or have pus or other drainage. More serious infections may cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, or surgical wound infections. To prevent staph or MRSA skin infections, practice good hygiene: Keep your hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed. Avoid contact with other people�s wounds or bandages. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors. If you think you have a staph or MRSA infection, see your healthcare provider. Staph and MRSA infections are treatable with antibiotics. If you are given an antibiotic, take all of the doses, even if the infection is getting better, unless your doctor tells you to stop taking it. Do not share antibiotics with other people or save unfinished antibiotics to use at another time. You can prevent spreading staph or MRSA skin infections to others by following these steps: Cover your wound. Keep wounds that are draining or have pus covered with clean, dry bandages. Follow your healthcare provider�s instructions on proper care of the wound. Pus from infected wounds can contain staph and MRSA, so keeping the infection covered will help prevent the spread to others. Bandages or tape can be discarded with the regular trash. Clean your hands. You, your family, and others in close contact should wash their hands frequently with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after changing the bandage or touching the infected wound.

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