By KIM ROLLMAN, The Times Leader

As the leaves begin to fall from the trees and the bright reds, oranges and yellows of autumn disappear, it is time to start thinking about taking precautions against influenza, also known as seasonal flu.

According to Ted Kross, director of the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department, the flu virus has shown up earlier than usual in Pennsylvania this year, with outbreaks of the contagious respiratory illness already being reported in the southern part of the state. The typical flu season runs from November through March, and possibly as late as May. With the flu virus spreading in the state, now is the time to take action to keep yourself and your loved ones healthy throughout the winter.

Flu shots are now available in Wilkes-Barre and throughout Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that all people older than 6 months get vaccinated against the flu, unless they have an allergy to eggs. People in high-risk groups should be especially vigilant and get the vaccine as soon as possible. High-risk groups include the elderly, the very young, people with chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and emphysema, and anyone whose immune system may be compromised because of a chronic health condition such as diabetes or cancer.

To read more, visit: Flu season is almost here

Increase your productivity and wellness with our no rinse non alcohol foam hand sanitizer.

By Catherine Donaldson-Evans, AOLHealth

Hand sanitizers have become trendy since last year’s swine flu scare, and dispensers pumping them out have cropped up everywhere from airports and office buildings to restaurants and stores.

But new research has taken the sanitizer craze a step further, claiming that the alcohol-based variety can improve on-the-job productivity and reduce the number of days employees are out sick.

A research team from Germany led by Nils-Olaf Hubner found that absenteeism among public administrations due to colds, fever and coughs dropped dramatically when hand sanitizers were used by staff.

No-Rise anti-bacterial foaming formula with aloe vera.

The authors of the study, published in the open access journal BMC Infectious Diseases, looked at the data on sick days and health symptoms for 129 participants. Subjects were divided into two groups, with those in the control group told to keep up their usual hand-washing rituals and those in the other group instructed to use hand sanitizer at least five times during the workday.

The researchers urged those given the disinfectant to use it liberally — particularly after activities likely to expose them to germs.

“Our study found that hand disinfection reduced the number of episodes of illness for the majority of the investigated symptoms,” Hubner wrote, according to a bulletin about the research.

Researchers saw fewer symptoms of common illnesses even during periods when participants weren’t out sick. They surmised that those results translated into a rise in at-work productivity and wellness.

Hubner did not respond to AOL Health’s requests for comment.

Prior studies have documented the positive effects of hand sanitizers in hospitals, child care centers and other public places where bacterial infections and viruses thrive.

To read more, visit: http://www.aolhealth.com/2010/08/24/hand-sanitizers-boost-wellness-productivity-at-work/