Now that the H1N1 virus has arrived in Grey Bruce — the health unit wants to make sure you don’t spread the flu over this Thanksgiving weekend.
Public Health Nurse Debbie Minielly says clean and disinfect your home if someone has been sick with flu symptoms.
She says you should also be washing your hands regularly and coughing and sneezing into your sleeve.
A middle aged woman from the Hanover area is the first person confirmed with the H1N1 virus in Grey Bruce — and she is recovering at home.
The health unit also reports an increase in respiratory-type illnesses in hospitals and some kids are staying home from school with flu like activity.
Minielly notes the H1N1 flu virus is different from the seasonal flu — but the symptoms are the same.
They include fever, cough, sore throat, headaches and body aches and vomiting.
Children and seniors are most at risk of contracting the flu — and pregnant woman are more at risk of complications from H1N1.
But Minielly notes the H1N1 virus also attacks young people.
In fact — more than half of the confirmed H1N1 cases in Ontario over the last year are under the age of 20.
The flu vaccine is not available yet.
And Minielly says the seasonal flu vaccine will not protect you from H1N1 — so you will need to take both vaccines.
