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Posted on: February 13, 2015

The flu season has returned, and it is important for everyone to refresh themselves on the symptoms of influenza and the preventative measures they can take to avoid contracting the latest strand of the virus. Individuals who work with the general public and are in close contact with others, such as message therapists, are at a higher risk of exposure and should take additional vigilance in learning flu symptoms and ensuring that none of their patients are sick before performing any message therapy. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can be spread between people up to six feet apart, and adults tend to begin passing on the illness a day before they even begin to exhibit symptoms themselves. The most common way the flu is spread is through the tiny droplets of moisture that are excreted when a person who is ill coughs, sneezes or even talks. It is also believed that it can be passed on by touching objects and surfaces a person who has influenza has interacted with. Influenza can cause nausea, headache, cough, congestion and telltale muscle aches. Many people who don't feel extremely ill may attribute their soreness to something else and seek a message therapist to help alleviate their pain. This, of course, is a primary way for the sickness to be passed on not just to the therapist who is giving the massage, but also to other people who work in the office and patients who use the same room as the person with influenza. Besides getting vaccinated annually against the flu, other steps to take include additional regular and thorough cleaning of all dishes, utensils and surfaces using an alcohol-based substance before and after use, as well as performing a thorough disinfection of door knobs, bathrooms, waiting areas and any objects or surfaces that are used by patients in a medical office.

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