According to statewide news outlets, doctors’ offices in Kentucky have been flooded with patients fearing the effects of what is now called Type A flu, but more commonly known as swine flu or H1N1. As cooler weather is set to blanket the Commonwealth in the coming weeks and with the revelation of a confirmed case in Perry County, it behooves us all to keep in mind that the spread of any type of influenza is preventable in most cases, often times with the simplest common sense practices.

Kentucky’s Department for Public Health notes that the easiest way to prevent the contraction of the flu virus is simply to obtain a vaccination. Seasonal flu shots are already available in the local health department, and the swine flu vaccine should hit the market in the coming weeks.

There are other ways to help prevent the contraction or spread of the influenza virus. Simply washing your hands and, if you do contract the flu, stay at home and avoid others until your symptoms disappear and avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, and mouth during the duration of the illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 200,000 people are affected by seasonal flu each year, accounting for 36,000 deaths annually in the United States. And now national media outlets have reported that an estimated 90,000 people could die from the swine flu alone this year. In the face of those numbers, there is reason to be cautious and practice good hygiene, but there is even more reason to get vaccinated. The vaccines are usually inexpensive, locally available, and could mean the difference between becoming quite ill or continuing a flu-free existence until next year.

In this day and age it seems that there is an infinite number of diseases to contract, so it makes sense that while both the seasonal and swine flu vaccines will only control two of those copious amounts of illnesses, that’s two you don’t have to worry about.