United Arab Emirates,  09 September 2020:  Flu is the most common infectious disease that millions of people worldwide get infected each year. While most of them recover within a week, an unfortunate lose their life to the seasonal flu virus. The flu is a respiratory infection that can affect anyone across any age, causing mild to severe symptoms. The most common symptoms of the flu include fever, body aches, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, fatigue. 

According to Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Abdelaal, Consultant – Pediatrics at Burjeel Hospital Abu Dhabi, the change of season makes it all the more vulnerable for people to catch the flu among many other reasons. Dr.Ahmed says that people come into contact with viruses and bacteria all the time. But during the cold and flu season, catching a cold or the flu occurs more often because they ignore how germs are spreading. 
Dr. Ahmed shares some essential tips to protect themselves and their families from the flu.  

1 Get a flu vaccination
Make sure you get a flu vaccination each year. The predominant circulating flu virus changes from year to year, so you’ll need to update your vaccination each year. 

2. Avoid touching your eyes and mouth
The flu germs can easily infect you through your eyes and mouth. So, you must strictly avoid touching your face and eyes. If you need to, you must wash your hands first.

3. Wash your hands regularly
The flu virus can live on hard surfaces, so it is advised to wash you

4. Eat a healthy diet
Eating right can have benefits for not only your weight but also your immune system. Get your vital daily nutrients from fruits and vegetables to keep your immunity healthy.
 
5. Strengthen your immune system
Strengthening your immune system is another way to protect yourself against the flu. A robust immune system helps your body fight off infections.

6. Avoid large crowds
Avoiding large crowds is crucial, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical year, if you’re able to limit contact with people during flu season, you can reduce your risk of getting an infection.

7. Clean and disinfect surfaces.
You can reduce your risk of contracting flu by keeping surfaces in your house clean and disinfected. This can kill flu germs.

8. Visit the doctor if flu symptoms arise
The flu can be dangerous for people over the age of 65, so it is best to visit your doctor if you develop any symptoms of the flu.