KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - As the flu season continues, Public Health- Seattle & King County is reminding the public that they can play an important part in helping to prevent the spread of respiratory illness. The flu, pertussis (whooping cough) and other illnesses are easily spread by coming into contact with the droplets that sometimes travel through the air and contaminate surfaces after a sneeze or cough. Simple steps will help prevent the spread of these and other respiratory illnesses.
"Everyone has a part to play in keeping respiratory infections from spreading," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County, "By washing your hands frequently and covering your cough or sneeze, you are protecting both yourself and the people around you from illness."
Public Health is asking the public to take the following steps as part of general good health manners:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
- Always wash your hands after sneezing, blowing your nose, or coughing, or after touching used tissues or handkerchiefs. Wash hands often if you are sick.
- Use warm water and soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizers to wash your hands.
- Try to stay home if you have a cough and fever.
- Follow your health care provider's instructions for treatment of respiratory illnesses, and get plenty of rest.
- You may be asked to wear face masks provided in your doctor's or clinic's waiting room to help stop the spread of germs.
These messages were reinforced today as Dr. Jeffrey Duchin, Chief of the Communicable Disease, Epidemiology and Immunization Section for Public Health - Seattle & King County, joined with Dr. Maxine Hayes, State Health Officer for the Washington State Department of Health and Dr. Martin Siegel, Medical Director of Epidemiology for Swedish Medical Center and a member of the Polyclinic, to promote the simple steps people can take to avoid spreading germs.
"Regardless of the season, we're asking people with coughs and colds to look out for the other guy and take these good health manners to heart," said Dr. Duchin. "A mild cough or cold for one individual can spread to others who may develop serious illness."
Other tips for avoiding respiratory illness:
- Wash your hands after touching anyone else who is sneezing, coughing, blowing their nose, or whose nose is running.
- Don't share things like cigarettes, towels, lipstick, toys, or anything else that might be contaminated with respiratory germs.
- Avoid sharing food, utensils or beverage containers with others.
Public Health - Seattle & King County is making "Cover Your Cough" brochures and posters available to health care providers and the general public on their website at www.kingcounty.gov/health/flu. In addition, the state Department of Health has a "Good Health Manners" fact sheet, available at www.doh.wa.gov/FluNews/default.htm.
Providing effective and innovative health and disease prevention services for over 1.8 million residents and visitors of King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County works for safer and healthier communities for everyone, every day. |
