In planning a community presentation to prevent the spread of influenza among older adults, which is a primary preventive recommendation for individuals who have influenza?

• A. People with the flu should stay at home
• B. Vaccination for those not yet vaccinated
• C. Disinfect surfaces daily
• D. Get additional exercise to boost immunity

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is preventing transmission from someone who is already infected. For a contagious illness like influenza, the primary way to protect others—especially vulnerable older adults—is to remove the infectious person from settings where they could spread the virus. Staying home when you have flu minimizes contact with family, friends, and other community members, reducing new cases and protecting those at higher risk of complications.

Vaccination matters, but it’s a preventive measure for people who aren’t infected yet; it won’t help someone who already has influenza. Disinfecting surfaces helps lower environmental contamination but doesn’t address the immediate source of infection—the sick individual leaving others out of reach. Increasing exercise to boost immunity isn’t an effective or practical approach during an acute illness and doesn’t prevent transmission. So the action that best prevents the spread from someone already ill is staying home.