1. Flu You do not want it

2. The flu is a disease that a lot of people get. It’s caused by a virus that comes around between October and March each year. The flu is like a cold, but it can be a lot worse. Flu can make you feel terrible and put you in bed for weeks.

3. The flu can come on fast. You may feel fine, then a few minutes later have a headache, fever, sore throat and cough. Aches in your muscles and extreme tiredness are also flu symptoms. You will not feel like playing.

4. Sometimes the flu causes bad nausea and vomiting.

5. Sometimes the flu causes stomach aches and diarrhea.

6. If you get the flu you will miss some days of school, but it won’t be fun. You will feel awful. The flu hurts.

7. What can I do so I don’t get the flu?

8. #1 Get a flu shot Doctor’s offices, clinics and some drug stores can give you a flu shot. That’s the best way we know to keep from getting the flu. Don’t be afraid to get a flu shot. They use tiny needles. A lot of people can’t even feel it when they get a flu shot. If you do feel it, it’s about a million times less painful than the flu.

9. The flu virus can get into your body when you touch your face or mouth. Keeping hands clean can really help you stay healthy. #2 Wash your hands a lot

10. bb #3 Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze

11. When people cough or sneeze they spray droplets that contain germs and viruses. This is the way the flu spreads from one person to another.

12. Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze is something that we all have been taught to do. But if you cover with your hands then anything you touch can pass the flu to other people. Wash your hands right away if that happens.

13. A much smarter way is to cover your mouth with your arm (elbow). Then there is less chance of passing the flu to others.

14. Only a little baby would cough or sneeze without covering up.

15. It’s also a good idea to use disinfectant on your hands whenever you can.

16. If you do get the flu, be sure to drink lots of water and fruit juice and stay in bed until you feel better.

17. Grown ups continue

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20. Common flu symptoms Fever* or feeling feverish/chills Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue (very tired) Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

21. bb Flu starts all of a sudden, out of the blue, while a cold grows gradually worse. Flu comes with a fever and headache along with severe body aches. According to the flufacts.com website chills are indeed a symptom of the flu. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, cough, and a runny nose

22. bb A cold rarely produces a high fever and body aches are minimal. Extreme exhaustion accompanies the flu along with chest discomfort and a severe cough. A cold may cause fatigue at first, but is not as prominent. According to the flufacts.com website chills are indeed a symptom of the flu. Other symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, cough, and a runny nose

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25. This text is expanded on the following pages for easier reading.

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30. The U.S. Center for Disease Control (C.D.C.) only keeps flu mortality statistic for Americans under the age of 18 years. Last year there were no flu fatalities in that demographic. The previous year there was one death. As of Jan 11, with more than two months of the 2012-2013 flu season remaining, flu has claimed the lives of 20 American children. Those with existing respiratory ailments are at highest risk. This year’s flu strain is a particularly nasty one. Many eastern states are experiencing a flu epidemic with some schools reporting student absenteeism in excess of 20%. Victims are typically unable to return to school or work for two weeks and longer after contracting this debilitating virus. The good news: This year’s vaccine is proving to be a very good match for the virus that is making it’s way from east to west across the United States. Those schools with a higher percentage of vaccinated students and staff are showing much lower rates of flu, even among unvaccinated individuals (fewer people carrying the flu). J Harper Feedback welcome: jhjh52@aol.com