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" Flu: Prepare, Don&amp;#039;t Panic As of September, 27 states were reporting widespread flu infection, with almost all the cases being H1N1 (swine flu). The other states aren&amp;#039;t far behind, as this virus spreads from person to person. But there&amp;#039;s no cause for alarm. While there have been deaths from H1N1 flu \u2014 and, of course, these sad cases are what you hear about on TV and in the news \u2014 the vast majority of people get better on their own, often without even seeing the doctor. But there are steps everyone should take to minimize the risk of becoming sick in the first place or, if you do come down with H1N1, to try to keep other people from catching the bug from you.  1. Get Vaccinated  There&amp;#039;s the regular seasonal flu vaccine, available now, and the H1N1 vaccine, which is being rolled out. You may have to wait your turn for that one because the government wants to make sure that certain groups get immunized as quickly as possible. These groups include: Note: Material in red can be cut for space (but not the bullets themselves)  Pregnant women. They are more likely than others to develop complications if they do come down with H1N1. Parents, other family members, and caregivers of babies less than 6 months old. Because the infants themselves are too young to be vaccinated, the idea is to protect them by immunizing the people who are in close contact with them. Health-care personnel . They need to be protected so they don&amp;#039;t infect patients. All people from 6 months through 24 years of age. Many cases have occurred in this age group; also, the virus spreads quickly through day-care centers and schools. People 25 to 64 who have chronic health conditions, including diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and other ills.  Once these high-priority groups have been vaccinated, authorities will offer shots to everyone else. Why aren&amp;#039;t seniors considered high priority (as they are with regular, seasonal flu)? Surprisingly, people 65 and older have been less likely to contract H1N1, perhaps because they were exposed to a similar virus many years ago and still have some immunity.  2. Practice Good Hygiene  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you&amp;#039;re caught without a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Teach your kids to do the same thing. Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you come inside, then before eating or fixing meals and after using the bathroom. Use an alcohol-based sanitizer if you&amp;#039;re not near a sink.  Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Flu viruses can live on countertops, doorknobs, and other surfaces for up to eight hours, and you might infect yourself this way.  3. Sick? Stay Home! The symptoms for seasonal and H1N1 flu are the same:  Fever Coughing and/or sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Headaches and/or body aches Chills Fatigue In addition, some patients with H1N1 have abdominal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea.   If you are diagnosed with H1N1:  Avoid close contact with family members and others, especially those in high-risk groups; wear a face mask when you&amp;#039;re in the same room with others.  Wash your hands often, to avoid contaminating surfaces.  Stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (really gone, not just lowered with fever-reducing medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen).  Get medical attention right away if you have trouble breathing, develop chest pain, have purple or blue discoloration of your lips, are so sick to your stomach you can&amp;#039;t keep food down, or become dehydrated (you&amp;#039;re dizzy when you stand up or can&amp;#039;t urinate).  Ask your doctor about anti-viral medications, such as Tamiflu. Call as soon as you&amp;#039;re ill. Although the government is not recommending these drugs for everyone, if you do need anti-virals, you should start them within a couple of days to get maximum benefit.   For more information, go to flu.gov, and to find out about outbreaks, vaccinations, and other info in your own area, check the Websites for your local or state health departments (often on the state Website). More Ways to Stay Safe Should you use soap and water or hand sanitizer? Get rid of mold, dust, and other invisible health hazards in your home. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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