As flu season approaches and urgent care centers start seeing more sick people, it’s time to start thinking about how to avoid getting sick yourself. Although getting a flu shot is one way to stay well—and avoid spreading illness to others—it’s important to understand how the virus gets passed from one person to another so you can take precautions to protect yourself and those around you. 

3 Ways People Get the Flu

1. Person-to-Person Contact

The most common way the flu spreads is via person-to-person contact. When someone who has the flu virus coughs or sneezes, droplets can fly up to 6 feet through the air. This can happen even before you have symptoms of the flu, meaning it’s very important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze to avoid spreading the virus, especially in public areas. If you’re sick and need to visit your doctor or urgent care, wear a disposable mask to protect others in the office.

2. Surface Contact

The flu virus can live up to 24 hours on surfaces. If droplets containing the virus land on surfaces like doorknobs, tables, shopping cart handles, keyboards, dishes, etc., and you touch them and then touch your face before washing your hands, you could get sick. Therefore, it’s important to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth as much as possible and wash your hands regularly. If someone in your home is sick, be vigilant about cleaning surfaces to kill the germs on surfaces, and if you have to visit urgent care for treatment, avoid touching surfaces as much as possible. ​​​​​​

3. Contagious Periods

People can spread the flu virus before they show signs of illness, while they are sick, and even after they start to feel better. The CDC says that healthy people can spread the disease beginning one day before they feel sick and that the most contagious period is three to four days after getting sick. It’s possible to still be contagious up to a week after first showing symptoms, so even if you visit urgent care and receive treatment for the flu, stay home and take precautions until you’re better to avoid spreading the virus. 

If you have symptoms of the flu or need treatment for any other illness or minor injury, Georgia Urgent Care is here to help. The experienced providers at this state-of-the-art facility have served families throughout Cherokee County for more than a decade. In addition to urgent care, they offer a broad range of services, including sports physicals, STD testing, and drug testing. To learn more about the clinic’s services, visit their website. If you’re feeling under the weather and want to check the current wait time to be seen, call (678) 672-5100.