Pandemic Flu, Seasonal Influenza - Montgomery County, MD

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Seasonal Influenza

Pandemic Flu

Preventing the Spread of Influenza

Surveillance

Seasonal influenza, or "the flu," is caused by the predictable, annual occurrence of the influenza virus every winter. Seasonal flu infects the nose, throat, and lungs and is spread in droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. Sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes. Usually people have some immunity to seasonal flu built up from previous exposure.

Healthy adults are usually not at risk for serious complications and recover from seasonal flu within a week or so. People who are very old or very young, or who have compromised immune systems are at increased risk.

You can protect yourself from seasonal flu by:

Getting the annual flu vaccine
Practicing good hand hygiene, and by
Staying away from people who are sick.

For more information on where to get a flu vaccine, call the immunization information line at (240) 777-1050.

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