Are the sounds of sneezing echoing around your office? It’s cold, chilly and the flu season is definitely upon us. If you haven’t already, it’s not too late to get vaccinated.
According to the NHS, some of the common influenza symptoms are:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Aching muscles
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
For most people, the flu is just a hindrance, however, there are certain ‘at risk’ groups who can develop serious complications. Those classified as ‘at risk’ are the over 65’s, pregnant women and people with serious/underlying health conditions.
‘At risk’ people will be offered the flu vaccine by their GP surgery. Not eligible for the free vaccine? Just pop into your local pharmacy. Some supermarkets even offer the service at a small cost.
Influenza is a viral infection that can be easily spread to others. If you are experiencing the first signs of symptoms, make sure you follow these steps to reduce the risk of further contamination:
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap.
- Use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze.
- Bin used tissues as quickly as possible.
With sickness absence costing the UK billions of pounds each year, good health and wellbeing is vital for businesses to cut down on costs. Our health and wellbeing services can help your employees feel happier and healthier.
For more information, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.
Find out more about our Occupational Health and Health Surveillance services.
