The holidays are here and so is flu season. As families gather for celebrations, doctors and public health officials say it’s important to stay safe.  The Georgia Department of Public Health says that as families gather for the Holidays, they expect flu to spread.

According to public health officials, the best prevention is to get a flu vaccine each year. Since influenza is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, the following infection prevention measures are also important:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when sneezing or coughing
• If a tissue is not available, sneeze or cough into your sleeve to contain the droplets (don’t sneeze or cough into your hands)
• Clean hands with soap and water or decontaminate hands with an alcohol-based hand rub
• Stay home if you are ill.

For more information on preventing the flu and other diseases, see Infection Prevention Tips for Staying Healthy.