CDC recommends a three-step approach to fighting influenza (flu). The first and most important step is to get a flu vaccination each year. But if you get the flu, there are prescription antiviral drugs that can treat your illness. Early treatment is especially important for the elderly, the very young, people with certain chronic conditions, and pregnant women. Finally, everyday preventive actions may slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory (nose, throat, and lungs) illness, like flu. This article contains information about everyday preventive actions.

Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through coughing, sneezing, or talking to someone with the flu. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch something with flu virus on it and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. Many other viruses spread these ways too.

People infected with the flu may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That means you may be able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick. Young children, those who are severely ill, and those who have severely weakened immune systems may be able to infect other for longer than 5-7 days.

Everyday preventive actions are steps that people can take to help
slow the spread of germs that cause respiratory illness, like flu.
These include the following personal and community actions:

• Cover you nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  This will block the spread of droplets from your mouth or nose
  that could contain germs.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water
  are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you or your child gets sick with respiratory illness, like flu, limit contact with others as mush as possible to help prevent spreading illness. Stay home (or keep you child home) for at least 24 hours after fever is gone except to seek medical care of for other necessities. Fever should be gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.
• If an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs, follow public health advice. This may include information about how to increase distance between people and other measures.
  

• Find out about your employer's plans if an outbreak of flu or another illness
  occurs and whether flu vaccinations are offered on-site.
• Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces, including doorknobs,
  keyboards, and phones, to help remove germs.
• Make sure your workplace has an adequate supply of tissues, soap,
  paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposal wipes.
• Train others on how to do your jobs so they can cover for you in case you
  or a family member gets sick and you have to stay home.
• If you begin to feel sick while at work, go home as soon as possible.
  

• Find out about plans your child's school, child care program, or college has if
  an outbreak of flu or another illness occurs and whether flu vaccinations are
  offered on-site.
• Make sure your child's school, child care program, or college routinely cleans
  requently touched objects and surfaces, and that they have a good supply of
  tissues, soap, paper towels, alcohol-based hand rubs, and disposable wipes on-site.
• Ask how sick students and staff are separated from others and who will care
  for them until they can go home.