Colds or flu are not contagious until you notice symptoms.   

Answer:  False ~  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than seven days. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some persons can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

So you can see why proper hand  and respiratory hygiene “all the time” is so important. Click the following link for  tips on flu prevention .

FMI: www.maineflu.gov or the CDC website.

Return to Inland’s homepage for more health resources and useful links.

Did you know?

Flu season is upon us!  Do you know your flu facts?  Here are some popular myths ~ help your friends and family protect themselves by educating them on the facts!

“I missed the flu shot clinic – it’s probably too late now to get the shot.”  CDC continues to encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, which can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Over the course of the flu season, many different influenza viruses can circulate at different times and in different places. As long as flu viruses are still spreading in the community, vaccination can provide protective benefit.

FMI: www.maineflu.gov

Safe Care Together

For more information about receiving the safest care possible and to request a free safe care toolkit, visit safe care together on Inland’s website.