The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development encourages the community to vaccinate against flu as the winter season approaches.
Influenza, also commonly known as the flu, is an infectious disease caused by certain germs that affect mainly humans but may also affect birds and domestic animals like pigs.
The common symptoms of the disease are chills, fever, sore throat, cough, muscle pains headache, general body weakness, nausea and vomiting.
It is spread through the air when one coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by touching surfaces contaminated by saliva and secretions from noses of people who have the disease.
People who are at high risk of influenza and its complications includes those with chronic illnesses, HIV infected, pregnant women, those over the age of 65 and children under the age of five years.
The department is prioritising the vaccination of the above group in a mass campaign that will begin in April 2011. It will be made available free of charge for the above group of people at all public health facilities in Gauteng.
Other members of the community who do not fall in the group above may access these vaccines but at a cost at any pharmacy.
Enquiries:
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
