Work: How to Avoid Workplace Flu
Each year, approximately 15 to 60 million people in the United States get the flu, resulting in about 70 million missed work days. Workplace environments can be a breeding ground for the flu, spreading the virus through close contact and shared work spaces. Your co-workers can even unknowingly spread the flu virus a day before they develop symptoms. To avoid the workplace flu, follow these tips. 1. Get a flu vaccine. The flu vaccine is the most effective way to guard against flu in the workplace. The flu vaccine protects against three different strains of the flu virus. For example, the 2010-2011 flu vaccine in the U.S. protects against an influenza B, AH3N2 and H1N1 virus. Every person 6 months old and older should get the flu vaccination each year. Encourage your co-workers to get the flu vaccine, or work with local health officials to set up a vaccination clinic in your workplace. 2. Disinfect your work space several times throughout the day during flu ...