Cover Your Cough This Holiday Season and Year Round
 With the Thanksgiving begins the Holiday
season, the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) encourages
the public to take steps to prevent the spread of flu and other infectious
respiratory illnesses.
People are getting together with family and friends to enjoy the holidays,
and they can make the time even more enjoyable by doing what they can to keep
colds and flu under control this season," said Nancy Bowen, M.D., San Diego
County Public Health Officer.
"It's a very good practice to always cover your cough," says Nancy Bowen,
M.D., San Diego County HHSA Public Health Officer. "You can take simple steps to
help reduce your chances of getting the flu or a cold and help protect those
around you as well."
The steps include:
- The best way to protect yourself from the flu (but not colds) is to get a
flu shot every year.
- Cover Your Cough by using a tissue or shirt sleeve if a tissue is not
available, is a slogan to remember, Dr. Bowen said. The tiny droplets
expelled during coughing and sneezing can infect someone else
- Frequent hand washing also can prevent the spread of colds and flu. Wash
hands for at least 20 seconds with plenty of soap and warm water. If soap
and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel or wipes.
- Avoid touching the mouth, nose and eyes with hands
- If you're sick with a cold or the flu, stay home. Avoid close contact with
those who are sick. Conversely, those who have a cold or flu should not
mingle with others. The flu typically lasts a week to 10 days.
It's not too late to get a flu shot, as flu season typically lasts through
March. For recorded information about flu shots and clinic locations, please
call the County Flu Information Line at 1-866-358-2966, or the Aging and
Independence Services/Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) Flu Hotline
at 1-877-358-0202 to talk to an Information Specialist about flu shots.
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