- Wash hands frequently with regular soap and warm water. If soap is not available, use an alcohol-based hand cleanser.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth since those are typical entry ways for virus that may be on your hands.
- Stay away from poultry, raw eggs, raw poultry meat, feathers and poultry faeces during bird flu outbreaks. See Bird to Human Transmission to understand how bird flu is transmitted to humans.
- Cook poultry thoroughly. Properly cooked poultry poses no bird flu risk to people. There shouldn't be any pink parts showing. Follow Tips for Cooking Poultry. Cook eggs thoroughly too and do not eat products that contain uncooked poultry blood as an ingredient.
- Get a seasonal flu shot. This could prevent you from getting the two flus at the same time which could lead to reassortment and a potentially more dangerous flu virus. People with chronic medical conditions should not receive the seasonal flu vaccine with the live virus, called the live attenuated flu vaccine (LAIV) sold as FluMist. See [link urlhttp://aids.about.com/cs/druginformation/a/flushot.htm]seasonal flu shot recommendations for people living with HIV/AIDS[/link].
- Ask your doctor about the pneumonococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) as well. It is recommended for people with chronic conditions. The PPV23 vaccine can help prevent pneumonia, a common complication of influenza that can lead to higher mortality.
- Make sure all of your vaccines are up-to-date. They won't prevent you from getting bird flu, but will help you stay healthy.
- Avoid being around people who are sick and avoid public settings During bird flu outbreaks. Drastic measures such as that would be announced by the public health department in your community. Until then, enjoy your usual social outings.
- Try to maintain your daily routine. Reduce stress, get plenty of exercise, and eat right.
- If you feel flu symptoms coming on, report symptoms to your doctor. He or she may recommend that you take antiviral drugs that may prevent you from getting full blown influenza, reduce the number of days you are sick and help prevent you from spreading the flu to others.
Sources:
- Center for Disease Control. National Immunization Program. Pneumonococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPV). See text http://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/VIS/vis-ppv.pdf
- Center for Disease Control. Stopping the Spread of Germs at Home, Work and School. See text http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
- Center for Disease Control. Preventing the Flu. See text http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm
- Center for Disease Control. HIV/AIDS and the Flu. See text http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/hiv-flu.htm