Reduce Your Risk for Flu

The news over the past several days that swine flu appears to be rapidly spreading in parts of the U.S. may have you worried about your own health. But don’t panic. As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not ranked the situation as a full-blown pandemic, and area governments have rolled out crisis management plans to deal with the situation. In the meantime, treat this as you would any other flu season:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, and discard used tissues right away.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, and stay home from work if you think you are catching something.

• If your symptoms are severe (fever above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, dry cough, sore throat, headache, joint pain, congestion, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea), go to the hospital.

• TOPIC: Swine Flu & Atlanta
• PHOTOS: The worried world
• BLOG: Atlanta, how will you protect yourself?
• VIDEO: World rushes to contain swine flu
• RESOURCE: Swineflucare.net.