Pandemic Flu

How to Prevent Catching and Spreading Germs

Wash Your Hands
Handwashing is one of the most effective ways to stop the spread of disease. Washing hands thoroughly and frequently is important everyday, not just during an emergency such as a pandemic.

Cover Your Cough

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
• Put your used tissue in a wastebasket.

Stay Home When Sick
By staying home you can help reduce the spread of disease in the community.

How to Protect Yourself From Seasonal Flu

34,000 people in the U.S. die each year from complications of seasonal flu. Seasonal flu occurs every year, and lasts roughly from November to late-May.

Getting a flu vaccine each year may not protect you from a pandemic. But it can protect you and others from getting the seasonal flu. Learn more >>

For some people, additional vaccinations for other diseases (such as bacterial pneumonia) may be recommended to help prevent flu-related complications and death.

Where to Get a Flu Shot

• From your health care provider (if covered by health insurance)
• Multnomah County Health Department Immunization Clinic
• GetAFluShot.com

How to Teach Others About Healthy Habits

Posters
The posters below were created by other health departments to teach and remind others about healthy habits where we work and go to school. You can download these for use at your workplace, school, child care center or community organization.

Cover Your Cough
Available in different languages.

Stop Germs, Stay Healthy!
Available in different languages.

Washing Your Hands 
For children. English only.

Video

Learn the right way to cover your coughs and sneezes—in your sleeve! This humorous video shows you how. Running time: ~5 minutes. (It may take a few moments for video to load.)

English

Spanish

French

American Sign Language

Page updated May 13, 2008