SWINE FLU

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CLEAN--Wash your hands COVER--Cover your cough and sneeze CONTAIN--Contain your germs; stay home if you are sick

Swine Flu Information Sheet for Public Distribution
Excerpts are taken from the Illinois Department of Public Health:

The public should continue to monitor the news and heed the advice provided by federal, state and local health officials and their health care provider.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
If you get sick, you should stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular human flu and include:

Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Body aches
Headache
Chills
Fatigue

Some people also have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu.

For people who have flu-like symptoms and have traveled to areas where swine flu has been confirmed, they should seek medical attention. However, if a person has flu-like symptoms but has not traveled to areas where swine flu has been confirmed, they should stay home and contact a doctor to see if they should go in for testing.