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Flu viruses are typically spread by droplets, when people who are sick with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Less often, a person may get flu from touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching his own mouth, eyes, or nose. Flu symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting, and diarrhea. Flu can cause mild to severe illness and may even lead to death. In the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized each year for flu-related illnesses (Thompson et al., 2004).Flu in Child Care Settings
Child care providers are at risk of acquiring and transmitting flu through their daily duties. Flu can spread rapid-ly among children and child care providers for a number of reasons:
1) Children younger than 5 years old are particularly vulnerable to flu.
2) Children are constantly in close contact with each other and their providers.
3) Toys and other objects that could have the flu virus on them are shared among children.
4) Young children may not be able to wash their hands well, or cover their mouths and noses effectively when they cough or sneeze.
CDC Flu Vaccination Recommendations
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