The first and best way to protect yourself and your family from flu is to get an annual flu vaccine (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm). There are also everyday preventive actions you can take, like avoiding people who are sick, staying home when you are sick, covering your coughs and sneezes, and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm). You can also consider wearing a well-fitting mask which may help reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Finally, it’s important to know that if you do get sick with flu, there are prescription antiviral drugs (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm) that can be used to treat your flu illness. Treatment works best if started within 2 days of illness onset. However, starting them later can still be helpful, especially if the sick person has a higher-risk health condition or is very sick from flu (for example, hospitalized patients). Follow your doctor’s instructions for taking these drugs.