WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) –The average adult touches just about 30 objects each minute, and experts say the flu virus could live on every single one of them.
Ken DeVellis is a physician at West Springfield’s Doctor’s Express.
Aside from getting the shot, he warns everyone can do one simple thing to avoid it. “A lot of the viral infections are spread person to person, hand to mouth. The best protection is hand washing,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, the number of people getting the flu this early is already rising fast.
“Last year was a very mild flu season, so I think any increase in that would definitely be harsher. Whether or not it’s any worse than flu seasons before remains to be seen” Dr. DeVellis stated.
Doctors say the flu survives best when the air is dry or when you get together with family over the holidays.
Dr. DeVellis says folks haven’t been rushing in to get their shots just yet. “We’ve given out a fair number of flu shots; I haven’t per se seen a rise in the incidence of patients with flu symptoms yet. There are a lot of people coming in with viral illness syndrome typical cold virus can mimic the same symptoms and it’s sometimes difficult to differentiate one from the other”
If you happen to be one of those already saddled with the flu, there might already be a remedy in your kitchen cabinet. “A hot toddy is probably good for anything. It’d probably make you feel better if you already had it,” Dr. DeVellis chuckled.
Of course, for young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with certain illnesses, getting a flu shot is the best bet.
Each flu season, up to 200,000 people are hospitalized.
It’s also possible the flue vaccine missed the mark on the proper strain this year.
I’ve know so many people who got the flu shot and still got very sick with the flu. I’m one of them. I tend to side with Jeffrey….
You don’t need to tell me. Been out of work sick the past two days
And I got the flu shot
The only years I didn’t got the flu were the years I didn’t get the flu shot. Also, last time I got a flu shot I had a horrible reaction to it. My whole arm swelled up and was red and hot, plus I got a fever and had other flu like symptoms. I’d rather take my chances thank you. Drinking lots of tea year round and taking Emergen-C anytime I feel a cold coming on seems to work better than the flu shot.
You CAN’T get the flu from the flu shot, it’s a dead virus. You CAN get the flu from the flu mist, it is a weakened virus. If you got the flu after the shot 1 you were already exposed to it before you got the shot (takes 2 weeks to kick in). Or 2 you got different strains than the ones they guessed for the shot. It is h1n1 and another strained combined in the vaccine.
Wash your hands all the time.
Tanya, you must beeither a nurse or work in the field. Why is it that nurse’s and doctor’s all do a general study for their licences to practice and never listen to what patients are saying about their own bodies??? Why and how do you know my body so well. I never slept with you or lived with you.
Every single person who posted here said they got sick and that dead virus excuse is starting to sound real old. People get sick from these vaccines.
Got ONE flu shot…five or so years ago…will never get another. I have never been so sick!!! I felt fine before getting it…no symptoms of anything.
Since then, I’ve had the usual cold and cough, but not much else. No more shots for me!