As weather changes take over Bahrain, the unwelcome flu season has also made its way to the island. If you or someone close to you has been battling a sore throat, fever, persistent cough or congestion lately, chances are you’ve already been through a PCR test and screening for influenza.
The Ministry of Health in Bahrain and hospitals are encouraging everyone to prevent contracting the flu; now’s the time to take your health seriously. So we’ve put together everything you need to know about the symptoms, preventative measures, and flu vaccination.
There are practical everyday actions you can take to protect yourself and those around you:
Keep Your Distance When Unwell
If you’re feeling sick, the best thing you can do is stay home. You can return to your normal activities once your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours and you’ve been fever-free without using fever-reducing medication for the same period.
Cover Up and Mask Up
Influenza spreads mainly through droplets when people cough, sneeze, or talk. Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Wearing a mask adds an extra layer of protection, both for you and for those around you. When worn by someone with an infection, masks significantly reduce the spread of the virus.
Hand Hygiene is Everything
Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If that’s not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser. This simple habit protects you from germs throughout the day. Equally important: avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs can easily spread this way.
Clean Air, Healthy Spaces
Improve indoor air quality by bringing in fresh outdoor air, using air purifiers, or gathering outdoors when possible. Cleaner air reduces your risk of exposure to viruses.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
Regularly clean frequently touched surfaces like countertops, handrails, doorknobs, keyboards, and phones. This helps prevent the spread of illness in your home and workplace.
At Work: Ensure adequate supplies of hand sanitisers, tissues, soap, and disinfectant wipes. If you start feeling unwell whilst at work, head home as soon as possible.
At School: Find out whether your child’s school or childcare programme offers flu vaccinations on-site and what their outbreak response plan includes. Ask about their cleaning routines for high-touch surfaces, sick student protocols, and air quality measures.
An effective way to protect yourself against seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated annually. This season’s flu vaccine protects against the three influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common in the coming months.
You and your family can get inoculated at Bahrain’s hospitals. Bahrain Specialist Hospital & Clinics, for instance, is running a vaccination campaign where, for just BHD 10, you can get your seasonal influenza vaccine quickly and safely.
Don’t underestimate the power of healthy habits. Getting plenty of sleep, staying physically active, managing stress, drinking lots of fluids, and eating nutritious food all contribute to a stronger immune system.
This flu season, good health truly starts with prevention. Take action today to protect yourself and your loved ones. Visit Bahrain Specialist Hospital & Clinics to get vaccinated and stay one step ahead of flu season.
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