Weekly Flu Report, January 18, 2013

 Posted by John Jacob, a health communications writer and editor at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health

This week's flu report (Word, PDF)indicates that the rate of flu-like illness in the state has dropped for the second week in a row. While this is encouraging news, it's important to note that flu can be unpredictable, and it's too soon to know for sure whether flu season has peaked here in Massachusetts.

If you have yet to be vaccinated, it is absolutely not too late to protect yourself against flu. Contact your health care provider or visit a local pharmacy to get a flu shot.

And if you're sick with the flu or caring for a family member with the flu, there's a free informational resource called Flu: What You Can Do - Caring for People at Home. It contains valuable information such how to tell if it's a cold or the flu, how to prevent flu from spreading, and how to keep somebody comfortable and well cared for at home -- and when to call the doctor. 

Comments

[April Mach]

Hi John,

I am a pharmacist at a Boston pharmacy.

How can I get copies of your fabulous Flu: What to Do? pamphlets delivered to our pharmacy?

This is extremely valuable and helpful information, and I am in an excellent position to disseminate this to patients in need. These handouts would be extremely helpful for my patients and I day to day.

Thank you!

DPH RESPONDS: The easiest way to order free copies of our flu materials is through the MA Clearinghouse website: http://maclearinghouse.com/. Thanks!