Table of contents:
- How do you get the flu?
- 1. Being close to the sufferer
- 2. Physical contact with sufferers
- 3. Touch the surface of objects exposed to the virus
- Transmission can occur, even before flu symptoms appear
- How are the signs and symptoms of the body already contracting influenza?
- How to prevent flu transmission?
It is no longer an unfamiliar sight to see an office friend who just had the flu or influenza yesterday, then the next day two other people also contracted the same disease. Continue to do so until in the end the whole office catches the flu. Flu symptoms are very contagious, so ideally you need to take sick leave first until you fully recover. Have you ever thought about how the influenza virus is transmitted? Why is the flu transmission process so fast?
How do you get the flu?
Flu is an influenza virus infection of the airways. This disease has symptoms similar to a cold, but is more severe. People who are infected with this virus will experience high fever, muscle aches, and severe headaches that can make the body collapse for days.
This disease is very easily transmitted from one person to another. The mode of transmission of the virus occurs through droplets of saliva (droplet) people who have the flu.
Here are the 3 most common ways the flu virus can spread to other people:
1. Being close to the sufferer
One way of catching the flu virus is through the droplets that come out when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or simply talks. Those droplets of saliva can shoot up into the air up to 30 cm or even 1 meter, and are finally inhaled by the people around them.
2. Physical contact with sufferers
Flu can also be transmitted through touch, for example, handshaking. An infected person will continue to sneeze and clean their nose or cover their nose when sneezing with their hands. Of course the virus will stick to his hands and stick to moving on every object he touches.
When you shake hands, the virus can then transfer to your hands.
3. Touch the surface of objects exposed to the virus
As previously mentioned, viruses can stick to surfaces, such as door handles, cell phones, desks, and even banknotes. Therefore, transmission is very easy to occur only by touching the surface of an object that contains the flu virus.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the influenza virus can survive outside the human body for several hours, depending on the type of surface. Generally, viruses can last longer on metal, plastic, or glass surfaces. Other factors such as temperature and humidity levels can also affect how long the virus can survive outside the body.
If a healthy person touches an object that has been exposed, the influenza virus can infect that person. The risk of transmission will be even higher if the person directly touches their nose or mouth without washing their hands first.
Transmission can occur, even before flu symptoms appear
The most susceptible mode of transmission of the flu virus occurs during the incubation phase, which is between the time you are first exposed to the virus and the symptoms appear. The incubation phase (also known as the window period) generally occurs around 24 hours to seven days (one week) after first contact with the virus. This means that you can become infected and experience symptoms at any time during the incubation period.
Adults can pass the influenza virus to others within 5-10 days of experiencing symptoms. So, if you start experiencing influenza symptoms on the third day of the incubation period, you can pass the virus on to other people for up to 10 days after that.
After that, the prevalence of flu transmission will decrease even though the risk of transmission remains the same. Meanwhile, healthy children will be infected up to two weeks later.
What's more, people whose immune systems are already weak and catch the flu can spread the influenza virus for weeks or even months after they recover from the disease.
That's because flu symptoms can be transmitted even before an infected person has symptoms or realizes that they have fallen ill. This is why the flu can take many victims every year.
How are the signs and symptoms of the body already contracting influenza?
There are a number of signs that the flu transmission has occurred. Flu symptoms generally appear suddenly, even though previously the body's condition was fine. The following are common flu symptoms:
- Runny nose accompanied by itching
- Keep on sneezing
- Body aches
- Body feels weak
- Cough
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
There is no specific way to treat flu. It is enough with over-the-counter cold medicine at the pharmacy or the nearest drugstore, you can relieve the symptoms. However, if your symptoms continue to get worse and are accompanied by difficulty breathing, chest pain, and a fever that doesn't go away, you should check with your doctor immediately.
How to prevent flu transmission?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no effective way to completely avoid transmission of the flu virus. The reason is, even though it is in the period of treatment, it does not mean that the flu symptoms will immediately stop being contagious.
That is why, the flu vaccine is the most important way to prevent transmission of influenza. If you've been vaccinated, your chances of catching the flu from people around you will be lower.
Another way to prevent transmission of influenza is to wash your hands frequently with soap until they are clean, or use them hand sanitizer alcohol based. Maintaining personal hygiene is the best way to prevent transmission of the influenza virus. In addition, minimize contact with people who are sick and take vitamin C to prevent colds.
