UNCLE SAM'S ADVICE ON THE FLU
Excerpted from a Oct. 14, 1918 edition of
The Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY
|
Courtesy of The Evening Gazette newspaper & an article it ran during WW1 |
"Epidemics of influenza have visited this country
since 1647. It is interesting to know that this first epidemic was brought here
from Valencia, Spain. Since that time there have been numerous epidemics of the
disease. In 1889 and 1890 an epidemic of Influenza, starting somewhere in the Orient, spread first
to Russia and thence over practically the entire civilized world. Three years
later later there
was another flare-up of the disease. Both times the epidemic
spread widely over the United States.”
....
"When crowding is unavoidable, as in street cars, care
should be taken to keep the face so turned as not to inhale directly the air
breathed out by another person. It is
especially important to beware of the person who coughs or sneezes without
covering his mouth and nose. It also follows that one should keep out of crowds
and stuffy places as much as possible - keep
homes, offices and workshops well aired,
spend some time out of doors each day, walk to work if at all practicable – in short,
make every possible effort to breathe as much pure air as possible.”
"You’re contagious from 1 day before you have any symptoms.
You stay that way for 5 to 7 days after you start feeling sick.
Kids may be able to spread the virus for even longer, until all of their symptoms fade."
https://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/how-long-flu-contagious
"What are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness?
In children
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash
In addition to the signs above, get medical help right away for any infant who has any of these signs:
Being unable to eat
Has trouble breathing
Has no tears when crying
Significantly fewer wet diapers than normal
In adults
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough."
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/takingcare.htm