This year medical experts are reporting that the flu virus has mutated even more aggressively than usual. So what exactly does this mean for us? Well it means quite a few things, the most salient being that the current most prevalent strain of the flu is much different than that which the current flu vaccine was created around.

Because of this fact the effectiveness of the flu vaccine is sharply lower than our more recent years, this year the vaccine is reported at only being 10% effective, meaning that unfortunately we cannot rest easy with only having had the flu vaccine. So this year we must take extra precautions even beyond the vaccine.

There are various methods to help one in preserving their health, the most obvious and arguably the best is simply to always make sure to wash your hands. Not necessarily just after using the restroom, but during flu season its a good idea to wash your hands periodically throughout the day so as to ensure that you do not infect yourself or possibly even worse, act as a carrier for that villainous virus we call the Flu.

The second most important tip is to try and avoid sharing things like water bottles, excessively touching your eyes nose and mouth etc. These are the easiest ways to transfer and infect yourself with the virus. Also it is best to try to avoid communal amenities when possible, such as staplers, water fountains, hand rails and other things of the sort. One vital way to prevent the spread of such disgusting germs is to make sure you yourself are not a perpetrator of the spreading of said germs. You can do so by making sure to always cover your face when you cough or sneeze, you can never be too cautious in such trying times.

To push caution even further it can be helpful to periodically sanitize things within your surroundings that you use often. For instance sanitize your computer mouse, wipe down your keyboard, clean your television remote, and maybe even your phone, all of these things are simply lousy with germs and bacteria. Research suggests that the average cellphone is ten times dirtier than a toilet seat.

Although it may seem extremely overboard to go and sanitize things in your household, these methods do work very effectively. And when it comes down to it, would you rather spend a few minutes cleaning up or spend a week miserable with the Flu?