The flu season is off to an early and severely swift start. According to the CDC’s Weekly FluView Summary for the first week of January, 47 states reported widespread incidence of the flu, while 24 states and densely populated New York City have reported high levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) activity. In fact, during the same week, 4.3% of the population who visited their healthcare providers went to seek treatment for flu-like symptoms.

In a recent Politico article, Jeffrey Shaman, a professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, warned, “It’s a very intense transmission season — probably the most intense we’ve seen in a decade.” With approximately over 2,250 people already hospitalized thus far, it is clear that even the smallest flu-like symptom should be taken seriously.

Think about your daily routine. You see a friend at the train station, and he shakes your hand after coughing into it. You buy your morning latte, and the barista securing the lid onto the cup has a cold. The person on the subway sneezes on you. In a few days, if you find yourself feeling under the weather, this isn’t a coincidence. Though this scenario may be a bit dramatic, it does paint a realistic picture of how easy it is to catch a cold or the flu, and pass it on.

If you feel achy, feverish, and unusually tired and cold, you should really think about calling in sick. While it may seem commendable to “take one for the team” and go to work, the flu is primarily transmitted through touch, so there’s a good chance you will pass the virus on to your coworkers. If your coworkers get sick, they sure won’t be thanking you for making the extra effort to come in.

Furthermore, if you feel coming to work sick will mitigate your anxiety about all the work you need to get done, reconsider. Yes, it may be stressful to think about putting your work responsibilities on hold for a bit, but think about it; can you really perform at your best when you’re not feeling 100%? The answer is probably no. If it’s productivity you’re concerned about, coming in may not be the answer. You could possibly spread the virus to the rest of your office, which just makes an office full of sick, unproductive employees. If you’re up to it, you can do some light tasks from home and check up with coworkers via email. However, other than sending the occasional email, you should be focused on resting up and getting better.

For those of you who don’t have the flu, and want to avoid contracting it, here are some preventative measures you can take:

• Wash your hands and keep hand sanitizer handy at all times.
• Limit contact with coworkers.
• Avoid directly touching doors by turning doorknobs with a tissue or paper towel.
• Sanitize your desk, keyboard, and mouse with antibacterial wipes.
• Visit your local doctor or pharmacy to get the flu vaccine; it’s not too late!

To receive future flu updates, visit the CDC’s website, here.