Health officials suggest getting flu shot

January is often the peak time for the flu season in Texas, and it's not too late to get a flu shot and take other common sense steps to protect yourself from illness.

"Getting a shot is the one best way to prevent flu, which can cause serious, sometimes deadly complications," said Dr. David Lakey, the state's health commissioner. "The flu shot and simple precautions such as washing your hands frequently, covering your coughs and sneezes and staying home when sick are good ways for people to protect themselves and their families from infection."

Flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as March, and vaccinations can be given at any time during this period. The shot takes about two weeks to become effective.

Flu is spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks, releasing the contagious virus into the air. People with flu can transmit the virus to others from one day before getting sick to up to seven days after showing symptoms of the flu.

Symptoms include a sudden fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. Flu complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.

Because flu viruses change, a new vaccine is produced each year. Flu shots do not contain live viruses and cannot cause the flu. A nasal-spray vaccine, which contains live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu, is an option for healthy people ages 2 through 49 years who are not pregnant.

In addition to flu shots, the Texas Department of State Health Services recommends these precautions to reduce the risk of catching or spreading flu germs:

-- wash hands before eating, touching the eyes, nose or mouth.

-- wash hands after touching anyone who is sneezing, coughing or has a runny nose. This is true especially if you are taking care of someone who is sick.

-- do not share towels, lipstick, toys, cigarettes, food, eating utensils, drinking glasses or anything that might be contaminated with respiratory germs.

-- avoid close contact with people who are sick, and avoid close, crowded spaces when possible.

-- cover your mouth and nose with tissue every time you sneeze, blow your nose or cough. Do not use handkerchiefs.

-- put used tissues in the nearest trash can.

-- if you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

-- stay home if you have a cough and fever. Keep away from family members who are very young, very old, or have a serious disease or weak immune system.

-- because cold viruses can survive for hours outside the body, cleaning surfaces with a virus-killing disinfectant (such as a one-part bleach to nine-parts water mixture) can help prevent the spread of common germs.

About 36,000 deaths are recorded in the U.S. each year from flu complications.

For more details on how to protect yourself during the cold and flu season, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/ prevention/cold_flu.