Know your enemy – Facts about the flu

The flu has many victims every winter. How can this virus make so many people sick and what are the most effective means of protection against it?

• The flu is most likely to be spread by droplet infection.
• Symptoms: sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills, muscle- and limb pain, fatigue.
• The flu can spread in the air with a speed of 160 km/h.
• Adults can infect others one day before the symptoms and 5-7 days after being infected.
• Pathogens can stay alive on our hands for up to 3 hours.
• On frequently used surfaces (tables, chairs, etc.) the flu can survive for up to 24 hours.
• The temperature is 32° in the nose, which is ideal for the growth of rhinovirus (causing cold).
• If you do not feel good, stay at home.
• During a thorough handwash, ”Happy Birthday” can be singed along twice.
• One of the most effective ways of prevention is washing hands regularly and thoroughly.
• Using antibacterial soaps can further increase the effectiveness of handwashing.

based on article of eletforma.hu
translated by Vivien Pásztai

Source: http://eletforma.hu