Is it the flu . . . or is it Ebola? one more reason you should get your flu shot now

Got a fever, headache, and muscle aches? If you're almost anywhere on the planet other than West Africa, it's far, far more likely to be the flu than Ebola. But the early signs of Ebola are very similar to flu symptoms. So to avoid confusion and unnecessary concern—for you and for health care workers—it's a good idea to do all that you can to avoid the flu. That means getting vaccinated now.

"It may be irrational, but given the news about Ebola, it's easy to understand why anyone with flu-like symptoms would be worried," Consumer Reports medical adviser Orly Avitzur, M.D., said. "Getting a flu shot could give you peace of mind, and also relieve the burden on doctors offices and emergency rooms responding to worried patients.

Of course, getting a flu shot is a good idea for other reasons, too. The flu kills thousands of Americans each year (far more than Ebola is likely to in the U.S.), and causes debilitating illness in many more.

See our advice on how to prevent and treat the flu, including our advice on flu vaccines. 

And since the flu shot reduces, but does not eliminate, your risk of getting the disease, you should take other flu-protective measures, including:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. But avoid antibacterial soaps, which don't work better and may pose risks.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, since that spreads germs.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

—Joel Keehn