Flu

Bronson Prepares for Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza

• Are you sick? --  How to know if you have the flu and what to do if you do
  • H1N1 flu self-assessment
  • Bronson Flu Information for Patients Who Have the Flu -- answers to your testing and treatment questions
    
    
• Testing for flu
  
  
• Get your flu shot (or nasal spray).
  • Find out how and where to get your Bronson flu shot -- seasonal vaccine is still available in some locations; H1N1 is also available
  • Community Health Department Clinics
    • Kalamazoo County
    • Van Buren & Cass County  
    • Branch - Hillsdale - St. Joseph County
    • Calhoun County
  • Questions about H1N1 
    • H1N1 vaccine priority groups
    • H1N1 vaccine FAQs
    • H1N1 mist FAQs
    • H1N1 mist screening questionnaire
      
      
• Pregnancy and Flu (English); (Spanish)
  
  
• Learn more about flu
  
  
• Follow the Bronson Flu Blog. Still have questions? E-mail fludoctor@bronsonhg.org

What are the symptoms of seasonal flu and H1N1? (Lee la información en español)
Symptoms for seasonal flu and H1N1 are similar – fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. 

What should I do if I think I have the flu?

• Get plenty of rest and drink fluids.
• Stay home and keep away from others as much as possible.
• Avoid travel, work or school for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone.
• If you are concerned, call your doctor. Rapid tests in your doctor’s office may not detect the virus. Your doctor should only prescribe medications after you show severe symptoms, not before.
• Call your doctor right away if you develop a fever over 100 degrees.
• Know that you are at higher risk if you have asthma; a weakened immune system; other heart, lung, kidney, blood or liver diseases; diabetes; or you are pregnant.
• Go to the Emergency Department if you are having trouble breathing. Mild influenza symptoms usually do not require treatment by a doctor.

How can I protect myself from getting the flu?

• Get a seasonal flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu viruses.
• Get an H1N1 vaccine once available. This is in addition to the seasonal flu vaccine.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact (about six feet) with sick people.
• Throw away tissues and other disposable items used by sick persons.
• Clean surfaces like bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys with a household disinfectant.

We're Vaccinating Our Staff and Patients
Bronson believes in flu shots so much that we require all of our doctors and nurses to be vaccinated. We were the first hospital in the country to ask this of our employees and doctors and we are the only hospital system in southwest Michigan to do this. We want to make sure our patients and staff are protected from this illness. In addition, we give influenza vaccine when available to patients who stay overnight at the hospital so when they go home they are prepared to fight the flu.

For more information, call Bronson HealthAnswers at (269) 341-7723 or 1-800-451-6310 or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.