Blog

Here we are in March and a quarter of the way through the year. 2018 appears to be fast slipping away and Flu season is on the horizon.

Each year here at Twilight, we take this season very seriously as it can have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of our residents and staff.

We strongly encourage all of our staff to be vaccinated along with our residents. Families, carers and volunteers are also encouraged to take up vaccination to limit the spread of influenza.

There are three things we can do to keep healthy.

• Start with a flu shot, which can reduce your risk of the flu. Ask your doctor for more details.
• Keep strong with a routine that keeps your body in peak performance, like regular exercise, a balanced diet, healthy sleep and limiting your stress levels. Talk to your doctor before beginning or revising any exercise regimen.
• Keep it clean and wash both your hands and surfaces regularly. Disinfectant is your friend!

Here are some facts about Influenza:

It’s more common to catch the flu, or experience flu-like symptoms, in the colder months of the year (April to October). The flu risk usually stays low during the summer months and rises to a moderate or high risk at the peak of the flu season. The risk is only intense in years of unusual flu activity, such as in 2009 when a new influenza strain emerged.

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by tiny droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.

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. Although people with the flu are most contagious in the first three to four days after their illness begins, some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after becoming sick. Some people, especially young children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others with flu viruses for an even longer time.

The time from when a person is exposed to flu virus and infected to when symptoms begin is about one to four days, with an average of about two days.