Tis’ the season for runny noses, achy bodies and uncontrollable fevers.  It is the dreaded flu season and thousands of people are taking precaution by getting the H1N1 vaccine or by trying to stay healthy.

Because the flu can hit seniors especially hard, the Masonic Village nursing home in Sewickley is taking the precautions you would expect to help keep their residents safe.

Dietary employee Travis Uber said flu shots were a must. “Masonic made the flu vaccine mandatory for all employees regardless of their position and it was distributed directly at the nursing home.”

The spread of the flu throughout the building was getting worse and the administration put the patients’ health above everything.

“I began to notice that less and less people were showing up for dinner or simply ordering soup and other fluids,” said Uber.

Vivek Patel currently has a relative staying at Masonic Village and said that the nursing home notified him of the infection’s spread.

“My grandfather is healthy and happy at the home and understands the risk of the flu, but he is being taken care of very well so there aren’t too many worries,” Patel said.

The flu symptoms consist of high fever, coughing, fatigue, and body aches. This specific virus should not be handled lightly because of its ability to get worse if not treated properly.

If someone is experiencing these symptoms and they only grow worse, they are encouraged to contact their local doctor to set up an appointment as soon as possible.