2024 Facts for Drivers PDF

be lost, and bacteria to be released into the bloodstream. ‘This can result in inflammation or thickening of the carotid arteries, which can contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, discovered in 2019. Th...

be lost, and bacteria to be released into the bloodstream. ‘This can result in inflammation or thickening of the carotid arteries, which can contribute to a heart attack or stroke. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, discovered in 2019. The virus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. Some people who are infected may not have symptoms. For people who have symp- toms, ilness can range from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear within 2 - 14 days after someone ts exposed and can include fever, chills, and cough. Vaccines are recommended to decrease severity and prevent the spread of the virus. Influenza: Influenza, or the flu is a virus that attacks the respiratory systems of humans, mammials, and birds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'’s (CDC) estimated that during the 2019- 2020 influenza season, 38 million illnesses, 18 million medical visits, 405,000 hospitalizations, and 22,000 deaths were a result of regular seasonal epidemics in the United States, but occasionally strains of influenza recombine to form a new strain to which human immune systems have no resistance. These new strains are the sources of pandemic influenza such as the 1918 Spanish Flu or the 2009 H1IN1 influenza outbreaks. Depending on how flu strains recombine, they can be highly contagious, highly deadly, or both. Drivers should be aware of what the flu is (both seasonal and new strains) and how it spreads. Influenza primarily spreads through airborne passage although the virus can live on surfaces for several hours. As a general precaution, drivers should wash their hands frequently and avoid touching their eyes, nose, and mouth during the flu season. Those showing symptoms should stay home from work and avoid contact with others while their symptoms persist for a few days after. Sneeze and cough into your arm rather than your hand. In the case of a pandemic, the U.S. government will provide specific information through the CDC. The most current information is on their website at www.cdc.gov. Drivers should always follow the advice of hicensed medical professionals, first and foremost when making personal health decisions. 153