The single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of influenza virus is — wash your hands!
All influenza viruses are most commonly spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets can be transferred to the mouth or nose of the other person. Influenza can also be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on an object or person and then touches his or her own mouth or nose.
Our hands are an easy way to spread germs. According to the CDC, individuals touch their eyes, nose and mouth about 25 times every hour without realizing it.
It is important to wash your hands often when out in public. To properly wash your hands, follow this process: wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry.
Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Apply soap and lather your hands by rubbing them together, lather the back of your hands, between your fingers and under your finger nails.
Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds.
Rinse your hands using clean, running water.
Dry your hands with a clean towel or hand dryer.
When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizers to help prevent the spread of Influenza.
Germs and chemicals can get into our food or be transferred to others through objects. Keep yourself and others healthy, by washing your hands!
For more information, visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/.