In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that there were between 291,000 and 646,000 people who died from seasonal influenza (the Flu) all over the world. This indicates that a wide range of demographics is at risk, from children, pregnant women to the elderly. However, there are steps you can take to best protect yourself from the Flu.

Types of Flu

The Flu viruses enter your body through the mucus membranes of your mouth, nose, or eyes. And the most common symptoms of the Flu include fever, aching and sore muscles, and headache. Influenza, or the Flu, a contagious respiratory infection, comes in various types depending on the different kinds of viruses causing it:

• Type A Flu or Influenza: Type-A influenza or Flu viruses are known to be constantly changing. They are mainly responsible for the large flu epidemics. They are spread by people who have already been infected, and the most common hotspots for type A influenza are the surfaces that infected persons have touched. You can also contract the flu if you entered a room where an infected person who has been sneezing was. This type of influenza can infect animals such as wild birds.
• Type B Flu or Influenza: Unlike Type A Influenza viruses, you can only find Type B Flu viruses in humans. Even though it may be sometimes harmful, Type B Flu viruses produce a less serious reaction than Type A Flu viruses. However, Type B Flu viruses are not responsible for pandemics.
• Type C Flu or Influenza: Type C influenza or Flu viruses are milder than both Type A and Type B. When your body is infected with Type C Flu viruses, you may not feel ill. And Type C Flu cannot cause flu epidemics.

The best way to protect yourself from the flu

The best way to protect yourself from influenza is simply taking the Flu vaccine. You should get a flu shot as soon as it is available, usually in September or October. The flu season peaks as early as October and runs until May. So, if you get it earlier, you stand a higher chance of avoiding being ill when the flu becomes widespread. It usually takes about two weeks for the vaccine to start working in your body.

Flu-related complications

The following categories of people are at high risk of developing flu-related complications:

• Adults 65 years of age or older
• Children younger than 5, but most especially those who are younger than 2 years old
• Pregnant women
• Those who have medical conditions such as Asthma, chronic lung diseases, heart diseases, blood disorders, kidney disorders, metabolic disorders, liver disorders, neurological and neurodevelopment conditions, and people with extreme obesity (body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more)

Good hygiene to save you from the Flu

The following simple and good hygiene practices may save you from contracting the flu:

• Washing your hands regularly and properly, most especially after returning from outside or if you have touched your nose or mouth
• Cleaning the surfaces of your tables, keyboard, telephone, and other areas
• Sneezing and coughing into tissues and disposing of them immediately, then washing your hands
• Not sharing cups, plates, and cutlery with an infected person
• Avoid sharing towels with an infected person