FLU (INFLUENZA)

Person-to-person

Flu is highly contagious. When sneezing, coughing or speaking, tiny virus-containing droplets of secretion from the patient's nose or throat will get into the air and can be inhaled by others nearby. The viruses are passed on via the hands as well if they have come into contact with virus-containing secretion. When touching the mouth, nose or eyes afterwards, the flu viruses can enter the body through the mucous membranes.

Via contaminated objects

The pathogens can also adhere to door handles, holding grips, stair railings or similar objects and are passed on from there via the hands.

Older persons, pregnant women and persons with a chronic underlying illness are at higher risk for severe progress of the flu.

• To avoid passing on the illness, limit contact with others, particularly with infants, toddlers and pregnant women, as well as with older persons and immune-compromised persons or persons with underlying conditions.
• Stay at home during the acute phase of the illness and stay in bed.
• Ensure regular ventilation of the sick room or the room where you are staying.
• Usually, only the symptoms of flu are treated. Contact your doctor if strong symptoms occur or if they worsen again. From case to case, a doctor may prescribe special medication against the flu. This is particularly the case in persons with a special risk to their health, where severe progress is likely. Such medication should be taken within 48 hours of commencement of the illness, if possible.
• Antibiotics have no effect on diseases that are caused by viruses. They are only ever prescribed if complications that are caused by bacteria occur.
• Frequently wash your hands with water and soap and do not shake hands if possible.
• Do not sneeze or cough at others. Turn away and cough or sneeze into disposable handkerchiefs or your bent elbow. If you had your hand in front of your face when sneezing or coughing, wash your hands at once if possible. This also applies after using disposable handkerchiefs.
• Touch the mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and nose with your hands as rarely as possible.

Vaccination

The best protection from flu is vaccination. It should be administered every year, ideally in the months of October and November. The vaccine composition is reviewed and adjusted every year to protect from the virus strains that are expected to circulate.

The German Permanent Vaccination Commission (STIKO) recommends a flu vaccination for persons who are in particular danger of severe progression:

• People 60 years and older
• Pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards; in case of chronic underlying illness from the first trimester of pregnancy
• Children, teens and adults with an increased health risk due to an underlying condition, e.g. chronic disease of the respiratory organs, heart or circulatory conditions, liver or kidney diseases, diabetes or other metabolic diseases, chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, congenital or acquired immune system deficiencies, HIV infection
• Employees and residents in seniors' residences and nursing homes
• Persons with a strongly increased risk of being infected themselves or infecting others, such as medical staff or personnel in organizations with frequent contact with the public

Hygiene

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water! Carefully dry your hands with a clean cloth after washing. This is especially important after contact with patients or after touching objects that patients touched beforehand.
• Touch the mucous membranes of eyes, mouth and nose with your hands as rarely as possible.
• Avoid shaking hands during flu waves and keep your distance from sneezing or coughing persons.
• Where possible, avoid close contact with patients, also at home.

Your health authority can provide you with further advice and information. Since influenza must be reported to the health authority, they will also have the latest information and be very experienced in dealing with the disease.

More (specialist) information on the current flu situation is also available online on the pages of the Robert Koch Institute (www.rki.de/influenza).

For information on protection from infection by vaccination and hygiene, please visit the Federal Centre for Health Education websites (www.infektionsschutz.de, www.impfen-info.de).