Practising good hygiene is the single most effective way to stop the spread of diseases such as flu. You can protect yourself and your family by:
- ensuring everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water, and
- cleaning surfaces regularly.
You can prevent a virus spreading to others by:
- always carrying tissues,
- using tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze,
- binning the tissues as soon as possible, and
- washing your hands regularly.
CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT. is a simple way to remember this.
Seasonal flu jab
This winter (2010-2011), the H1N1 flu virus will be one of the main strains circulating, so it has been included in this year's seasonal flu jab. It means that the vaccine will protect you from H1N1 flu, as well as other strains.
Vaccination is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from flu:
- people with a serious medical condition (see box, right)
- people aged 65 or over
- pregnant women (see below)
- people living in a residential or nursing home
- the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
- healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care
- those who work in close contact with poultry, such as chickens
This winter, the seasonal flu vaccine will be extended to pregnant women not in the high-risk groups.
Usually, only pregnant women in high-risk groups are offered the seasonal flu vaccine.
For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see our pages on the seasonal flu jab.
Antiviral medication
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends the antiviral medicines oseltamivir and zanamivir to prevent flu if all of the following apply:
- The amount of flu virus circulating is sufficient to mean that if someone has a flu-like illness, it is likely to have been caused by this flu virus.
- The person has a certain medical condition (see box) or is over 65.
- The person has been in contact with someone with a flu-like illness and can start treatment within 36 hours (zanamivir) or within 48 hours (oseltamivir).
- The person has not been effectively protected by vaccination (see below).
People who are not effectively protected by vaccination include:
- Those who have not been vaccinated since the previous winter.
- Those who cannot be vaccinated, or who have been vaccinated but it has not taken effect yet.
- Those who have been vaccinated for a different form of flu virus.
If there is an outbreak of seasonal flu in a residential or nursing home, oseltamivir and zanamivir may be offered to people if they have been in contact with someone with confirmed flu. This is because these homes are closed places in which flu can spread quickly.
For more information, go to the NICE guidelines on antivirals to prevent influenza.
