In recent months, the Coronavirus has dominated the news headlines. Every week there is more information about it spreading, quarantines and theories of its origin. It’s frightening not seeing a solution in the near future given how incredibly contagious this virus is. While this is scary news, we shouldn’t forget that we are currently in prime flu season and the importance of taking precautionary measures to prevent influenza. It's a seasonal threat to every home no matter where you live. The CDC estimates that influenza has resulted in between 9 million to 45 million illnesses, between 140,000 to 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 to 61,000 deaths annually since 2010. What can we do to stay safe? Here are six practical ways to avoid the flu according to Healthline: Avoid large crowds. Avoiding large crowds can often be difficult. Wash your hands regularly. Strengthen your immune system. Get an annual flu vaccination. Clean and disinfect surfaces. Visit the doctor if flu symptoms arise. One other thing that should be mentioned about cleaning and disinfecting surfaces is right in the palm of your hand… your cell phone. A study published in AJIC reported that mobile phones of patients, companions and visitors can carry multidrug-resistant hospital pathogens. Make sure you and your staff are taking every precaution to keep it clean and healthy this winter.