Guidance for Families Caring for a Child or Adult with Flu or Flu-Like Illness at Home

How Flu Spreads:
The main way Flu viruses spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. The droplets from the infected person travel through the air and deposit on the mouth or nose of people nearby. The flu virus may also spread when a person touches respiratory droplets deposited on another person or object and then the person touches their own mouth, nose or eyes.

Stopping the Spread:
To protect family members that are not sick:
• keep the sick person away from others, preferably in a room separate from common areas of the house; wear a face-mask - if available & tolerable -when sharing common spaces in the household
• remind sick person to cover coughs and clean their hands often using soap & water or alcohol-based hand rub.