H1N1 Influenza

The flu season will soon be upon us. It may arrive sooner this year with the new H1N1 virus. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something – such as a surface or object – with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Please consider the following steps to avoid the flu.

Prevention

• Wash your hands before and after class with soap and hot water. Hand sanitizer is also available in the dojo.
• Cough / sneeze into tissue or your elbow
• Keep your fingers away from your mouth, eyes, nose
• If you have flu symptoms listed below, please stay at home

Symptoms of flu

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches and headache
• chills and fatigue

If you do come down with the flu, the Center for Disease Control recommends that you stay at home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)

Additional information on the H1N1 flu is available on the CDC website:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm