Winter in North Carolina has long been a wide range of temperatures.
Who among us can’t recall a 70-degree Christmas or another with that rare white fluffy stuff, even if it didn’t stick and was just a flurry?
We’re into the thick of winter now, a time when one day it is not uncommon to enjoy a temperature in the 60s and two or three nights later we’re in the 20s. Swings like this can be tough on us, and what we’re doing to avoid being a victim of the flu season is important on a daily basis.
There was good news the first full week of January. North Carolina, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, was among 10 states with low activity. We know how quickly that can change. Elsewhere in the country, activity was considered elevated.
At last report, six people had died in a week’s time and our state’s death toll from the flu has risen to 16. Four of those six were 65 or older; 12 of the 16 have been at least 65.
Don’t let that age range mislead; we all need to have our guard up. The season began Oct. 1, officially, and runs through March 31. Our advice is being smart well into April when cold days and significant temperature swings are still possible.
The CDC says “the best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year.” A common misconception is that the vaccine can cause the flu, and that is not true.
In addition, there are daily actions that can help prevent the flu. Avoid close contact with sick people, and those that are sick should limit contact with others.
Anyone with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone, except to get medical care and other necessities. To be clear, that means gone 24 hours without using fever-reducing medicine.
Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Throw it in the trash and wash your hands with soap and water.
Another action is to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs get spread quickly when we do.
And clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
It’s important to know the difference between the flu and what is generally referred to as having a cold. Flu comes on suddenly, the CDC says, and people often feel some or have all of the symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea and vomiting. Important to note is not everyone who contracts the flu has a fever.
Being sick is no fun, and if not handled properly can lead to bad situations, even death.
Be mindful of others, and take care of yourself.