Respiratory illness can cause mild to severe illness, and may sometimes result in death. General symptoms of respiratory illness may include headache, fever, severe cough, runny nose and/or body aches. Respiratory symptoms may be caused by a number of different disease agents, including some that may be prevented through immunization, such as influenza and pertussis.

If you have asthma or other chronic respiratory illnesses, regularly discuss and follow health care provider recommendations to control the pre-existing respiratory condition as you may be at increased risk of severe illness from respiratory infection.

Contact your health care provider immediately if symptoms appear.

Follow these five important steps to help protect yourself and others from respiratory illness:

1-Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use and alcohol-based hand rub.

2-Avoid close contact, such as touching and shaking hands, with people who are sick

3-Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

4-Stay home when you are sick and keep children home when they are sick.

5-Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.