The Ebola virus has been dominating news reports recently and rightfully so, but as area authorities continue to refine their strategies for guarding against a possible outbreak, we fear that another, more common health threat may soon be wreaking havoc.
This particular ailment is a perennial problem that often cuts a swath through school populations, drastically reduces available personnel in area stores and businesses and results in mounting expenses on many fronts.
It can also be a killer.
Yes, flu season is almost here and it’s time to stock up on tissues, practice preventative techniques including regular hand washing and replenish our supplies of chicken soup.
It also time to get a flu shot to help keep this particular bug under control.
If your physician agrees, we encourage you to be ready to take your medicine sooner than later. A flu shot really isn’t all that bad and it can make a big difference in how you feel later on this fall and into the winter.
In our view, one of the problems with the flu is that too many people fail to take it seriously. Instead of paying attention to health officials and taking proper precautions, they ignore warnings and see the flu as no more serious than the common cold.
That’s dangerous thinking. According to Denton County health authorities, flu-related deaths in 2014 included a 50-year-old Aubrey woman, a Sanger woman in her 40s, a Lewisville man in his 40s, a 30-year-old Denton woman, an 80-year-old Highland Village woman, a Carrollton man in his 70s, a Denton woman in her 40s and a 13-year-old girl from Carrollton.
You don’t want to take chances with the flu, and even if you aren’t concerned about your own health, you should consider your family, friends and all the other people who you may come into contact with in the weeks ahead. Don’t put them at risk by failing to take proper precautions.
Signs advertising flu shots and clinics are popping up around the county, so it’s easy to find a convenient location to roll up your sleeve. And many community organizations are working to make flu shots available to everyone, regardless of income level.
For example, the Denton County Medical Reserve Corps is conducting a free flu clinic for low-income residents from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lewisville High School, 1098 W. Main St. Denton County first responders can also obtain a flu vaccine starting at 8:30 a.m.
The Medical Reserve Corps is a group of trained volunteers that can be called upon to assist the community during public health emergencies or natural disasters.
We appreciate these volunteers and all the others who are helping county residents prepare for flu season. Thanks to their efforts, many more people will have access to vaccines and be able to take a proactive approach to protecting their well being and the health of their families.
We encourage you to consider joining them. If we all work together, maybe we can keep this flu season from making headlines.
