Sick or treat? Let your costume be the only scary thing

EDMONTON – With Halloween one day away, this time of year can be spooky – but influenza can be really scary.

Make sure you’re handing out goodies, not germs, by practising safe hand hygiene to prevent the spreading illnesses and influenza and, to help ensure your fall is a happy and healthy one, Alberta Health Services (AHS) reminds Albertans to get immunized against influenza. Good health isn’t contagious. Influenza is. To protect your health, you need to get immunized.

As of the data posted Oct. 20, AHS has confirmed more than 100 lab-confirmed cases of influenza in Alberta. More than 313,000 doses of influenza vaccine have been administered to Albertans since the influenza immunization campaign launched Oct. 15.

Influenza vaccine continues to be offered to all Albertans (six months of age and older), free of charge. For more information, including local clinic schedules, visit ahs.ca/influenza or call Health Link at 811. Influenza immunization is also available through many pharmacist and physician offices around the province.

In addition to getting immunized to reduce your risk of influenza, there are a number of steps you should always take to help prevent the spread of germs and illness. These include:

• Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing. If you don’t have a tissue, always cough or sneeze into your arm, not into your hands.
• Washing hands thoroughly and often with soap and warm water after coughing, sneezing, using tissues or the washroom, and before eating or preparing foods.
• Keeping hands and fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Refraining from preparing food for anyone while you’re sick.
• Staying home – from work, school, social obligations and visiting anyone in care facilities – when sick.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.