I heard someone have a sneezing fit the other day. Now, it may have been allergies but I kept my distance nonetheless. After all, it is the season of colds and flu.

While there are distinct differences between these two ailments, being in close proximity to a sneeze or a cough can spell trouble.

“Influenza is spread easily from person to person primarily when an infected person coughs or sneezes,” said Val Sauda, director of community services at Eastern Agency on Aging. “After a person has been infected with the virus, symptoms usually appear within two to four days, and the infection is considered contagious for another three to four days after symptoms appear.”

If you think about all the things in your daily life, from door knobs to money to items in grocery stores, that carry germs, hand washing is a must. However, if hand washing is not possible, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. These waterless cleaners are readily available in stores and are portable, so you never have to be without protection.

You cannot have too many of these germ fighters around, so stock up because you never know when you will be forced to shake hands with someone who has a prominently runny nose and dry cough.

And keep your hands away from your face. If you have touched something that has been touched by an infected person, and then you rub your eyes or nose, the virus on your fingers has just found an entryway into your whole body.

But careful though you may be, remember that the flu virus is also airborne, so if you happen to be in the path of a random cough or sneeze by an infected person, you could get sick. One of the best ways to guard against some strains of influenza is to have a flu shot.

“Getting a flu vaccination is not a 100 percent guarantee that you won’t contract the flu,” said Sauda. “However, should you get the flu, if you’ve had the shot, your symptoms will be reduced.”

The Centers for Disease Control have released a “Facts and Myths” sheet regarding the flu vaccine.

. Myth: The flu isn’t a serious disease.

Fact: Each year some 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die from the flu. Most who die are age 65 and older.

. Myth: The flu shot causes the flu.

Fact: The flu virus in the shot is dead which means it is inactive. It cannot cause someone to get the flu.

. Myth: The side effects of the shot are worse that the flu.

Fact: The worst side effect is usually a sore arm at the injection site. Other side effects are rare.

The fact is that the flu can cause complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia quickly in seniors – which can be life threatening – and delaying treatment can make matters worse.

So how do you know your symptoms are the flu?

According to the CDC, flu can cause fever, chills, headache, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, muscle aches and extreme fatigue lasting several days to more than a week.

While nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can sometimes accompany influenza infection, these symptoms are rarely prominent. The illness that people often call “stomach flu” is not influenza. It’s another virus.

Flu season is November to March, so call your doctor or come to one of the Bangor Regional Influenza Coalition’s clinics:

. 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, at the Bangor Civic Center.

. 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Bangor Civic Center.

Bring your Medicare card, as the shot is covered.

But remember that even if you have the flu shot, you must keep those hands clean and don’t touch your face – there is no injection for the common cold.

Carol Higgins is director of communications at Eastern Agency on Aging. E-mail Carol Higgins at chiggins@eaaa.org. For information on EAA, call 941-2865, toll-free 800-432-7812, e-mail info@eaaa.org or visit EAAA.org. TTY 992-0150.