With the weather taking a turn towards cooler temperatures, people’s sighs of relief after a blistering summer are being punctuated by sniffles and cough as the influenza virus finds familiar stalking grounds at this time of the year. What is exacerbating the situation for UAE residents is that many people returning from vacations are bringing with them new strains of the flu virus. The Ministry of Health and Prevention’s nationwide campaign on flu awareness launched last week is a timely move that will help to create a more informed approach to preventing the flu, given that many people do not take adequate precautions when they get the bug. The primary responsibility of tackling flu lies with each one of us. Being aware of the best practices in flu avoidance is a civic responsibility that must supplement the efforts of the authorities in combating the onslaught of the virus.
To begin with, being aware of the flu symptoms is a must. If any symptom manifests, such as high to moderate-grade fever, chills, cough or body ache, then it is a resident’s duty to seek prompt medical attention and stay at home till she or he gets better. There are many brave hearts who turn up at work reeling under the force of the flu, doing no one any good as they only infect more people with the bug.
Apart from educating oneself about the symptoms and care, the ministry’s campaign is urging people to get vaccinated, particularly the more vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, the elderly and individuals with compromised immunity.
Every precaution taken to ward off the flu can lead to saving big numbers of man-hours lost at work and at home and keep society in a better state of health and happiness.
