How to avoid the flu in the workplace

We spoke with President Obama’s longtime family physician about how to make sure you don’t succumb to this season’s nasty flu bug.

It’s been an early—and especially nasty—start to this year’s flu season.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the illness has arrived five weeks early, sweeping across 41 states. In Illinois, the flu has killed six people.

Hospitals nationwide are swamped with patients. The CDC says the percentage of people seeing their doctors for flu-like symptoms has doubled to 5.6, from 2.8 percent last month.

For many professionals—especially those in PR—falling ill simply isn’t an option; PR practitioners operate in an always-on, 24×7 environment. As you recover in bed, work piles up and emails continue to pour in.

Bottom line: If you haven’t gotten the flu, do everything you can to avoid it.

Dr. David Scheiner, an internist in Chicago Hyde Park’s neighborhood, kept President Obama healthy for 22 years. The veteran physician spoke with PR Daily on Wednesday and offered several tips for avoiding the flu.

1. Get a flu shot.

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