Think we�re just a cold? Ha!
Underestimate us at your peril. Each year on average, we send 200,000 people to the hospital and have a hand in killing at least 23,000 (usually if they also develop complications such as pneumonia). Not to brag, but we are strong enough to render even a totally normal, healthy person gravely ill.
We dread nothing more than the flu vaccine.
It�s the best way to ensure that we can�t wreak havoc. A vaccine provides your immune system with NSA-level intelligence to identify and eradicate us.
This season, we�re especially nervous�there�s a new quadrivalent vaccine that protects against four flu strains instead of the usual three. There�s a new vaccine for people who are allergic to eggs and, once again, an extra-strength version for senior citizens. Yikes.
We�re terrified of products labeled �disinfectant.�
This means they�ve been tested for their ability to kill viruses (like me). Cleaning products labeled sanitizer have to kill only bacteria. Disinfectants can take a few minutes to kick in, so if you spray one on a surface and immediately wipe it off, chances are some of us viruses will survive.
Merely breathing spreads us.
You don�t have to sneeze or cough. A single breath can harbor thousands of us�and we can infect other people a full 24 hours before you exhibit symptoms.
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