COLUMBUS, Ga. – Georgia ranks as the sickest state in the country, says WTVM, and many of its students are heading back to school this week.

Dr. Karla Owen says that one of the challenges with the flu is that many do not know they are carrying and spreading the virus. This is even more challenging for children because they go to school.

While the CDC highly recommends that everyone six months of age or older get a flu shot, other ways to combat the flu are fairly simple:

• Wash your hands
• Sneeze and cough into a tissue
• Don’t touch your face
• Routinely clean all hard services