Influenza | La Dept. of Health

No One Plans To Get The Flu

Whether you’re wanting to attend a special event or just hang out with family or friends, getting the flu will ruin those plans. That’s because the flu, known as the influenza virus, is a serious and contagious respiratory illness that can easily be spread to others when you cough, sneeze or even talk. Flu season is usually between December and February when the number of flu cases typically peaks, though it can extend into May.

Protect Yourself From the Flu

Getting a yearly flu shot is the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

Everyone six (6) months of age and older should get a flu shot by the end of October, though getting one anytime during flu season is still beneficial. It will help reduce your chances of getting and spreading the flu. You can also help care for a loved one who may be at high risk of contracting the flu by helping make sure he or she gets a flu shot, too.

Get Your Free Flu Shot Today!

Don’t let the aches, pains, chills and fever of the flu ruin your plans. Get FREE flu shots for you and your family at these locations.

For People with Chronic Illness

People with chronic illnesses are more susceptible to the flu. People with compromised immune systems are more likely to contract the virus, and their symptoms can be more severe than in the general population. If you have a chronic medical condition, you should consult your doctor about getting vaccinated and other ways to protect yourself against the flu. If you do experience flu-like symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately to see if you need treatment or further evaluation.

CDC Information on At-Risk Populations

Antiviral Medication is available, and may be recommended for individuals with chronic health problems who contract the flu. For information for nursing homes and long-term care facilities, click here.For Employers

All employers should be prepared to handle the impact of seasonal flu on their businesses. In determining how to stay prepared, businesses can encourage employees to get their flu vaccines, which can help prevent them from becoming ill and spreading the flu to their colleagues. Businesses also can encourage good hygiene habits such as frequent handwashing or covering mouths when sneezing or coughing to decrease the spread of flu virus among employees.

As flu season (which lasts from late fall to early spring) approaches, businesses should use this time to consult and update their pandemic flu and continuity of operations plans, if these exist. A pandemic flu outbreak is different from seasonal flu outbreaks in that if a pandemic flu virus occurs, it would spread more easily among more people, and would cause more employees to become ill and be absent from work. Businesses that do not have these plans should still focus on decreasing the spread of seasonal Influenza among employees and limiting its impact in the workplace.

Businesses should be prepared to deal with a higher prevalence and longer duration of absenteeism among employees who become ill or must care for ill family members during the flu season. Employers should also be aware that distributors in their supply chain may experience similar disruptions in business and therefore plan accordingly.

For more information on developing a pandemic plan as well as keeping your workplace healthy during flu season, visit:

Pandemic Flu

An influenza pandemic is a public health emergency in which a new strain of the influenza virus (flu) spreads rapidly, causing severe illness for many people. If an influenza pandemic were to occur, there would be little to no natural immunity among most people, and it would take time for public health officials to develop a vaccine for a new pandemic strain. Because of these factors, a pandemic would quickly interrupt essential community services, such as work, school, emergency response services, transportation and health care. To prepare and be ready to respond in the event of a pandemic, the LDH Office of Public Health's Bureau of Community Preparedness has developed several readiness materials and conducted scenario training on an ongoing basis. See the materials below.

Please note that pandemic flu is different from seasonal flu. In Louisiana, flu season occurs from October to April, and many people contract the flu virus during this time. While not as severe as a pandemic, seasonal flu can still be serious, especially for the elderly, young children, pregnant women and anyone with weakened immunity. For the latest information on seasonal flu, visit Fight the Flu Louisiana.

Tamiflu is currently available to facilities through the Strategic National Stockpile Program for those facilities who have a need. Requests for product can be emailed to RDV.pharm@la.gov utilizing the Tamiflu Request Form.

Pandemic Influenza Storybook - Personal recollections from survivors, families and friends.

Pan Flu Presentations

Resources