Here are some practical tips for staying healthy that you should follow every day, and they are especially important during flu season or if there is a pandemic.

1.) Wash your hands frequently.

2.) Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available.

3.) Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and dispose of the tissue in the trash. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve.

4.) Get a flu shot. This will not protect you from pandemic flu, but it will help protect you from other flu viruses. Talk to your doctor about getting a pneumonia shot, especially if you are over 65.

5.) Properly handle and cook poultry and eggs. Poultry should be cooked to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celcius), which will destroy viruses and other bacteria should they be present. Eggs should be cooked until both the yellow and white parts are firm.