So you’re at work, minding your own business, going about your daily office routines. You think it’s just another day in the office, just another busy day. You think you’re safe? Think again.

The office is a perfect place for flu transmission, as it spreads quickly in crowded and confined conditions. Being in contact with numerous customers, clients, and officemates increase the risks of transmission. However, the worst scenario is when a flu outbreak occurs, spreading from one employee or customer to another, potentially slowing down work activities within your company.

Truth is, flu accounts for 10 to 12% of all absences due to sickness around the world. Usually, suffering from flu takes out 3-4 workdays from an employee, but depending on the severity of an outbreak, it can take up to 10 days to fully recover.

Moreover, there’s the fact that flu may result in complications leading to hospitalization or death, the dangers of this happening being higher in the older population. Those suffering chronic heart diseases, diabetes, and asthma are in greater danger of developing complications due to flu.

So how do you limit the spread of flu in the office?

Here are a few tips:

1. When coughing (or sneezing), cover your mouth and nose with tissue. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If possible, keep your hands off the phones! Let your officemates do the phone work on your behalf.

2. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water.

3. When sick, keep your distance from others or better yet, stay home!

4. Stay away from those who are sick.

That’s how you limit it, but you know what? Prevention still is the key in fighting flu, and vaccination is the single best way to do it. For your peace of mind and better health, learn more about flu by visiting www.bakuna.ph