Flu Season In Full Swing in East Alabama
The influenza virus season usually runs every year from late December through March in the United States. During a normal season, the flu affects 10 to 20 percent of the population. Influenza infection results in approximately 114,000 hospitalizations, 20,000 deaths, and direct and indirect medical costs amounting to $15 billion.
According to some doctors in East Alabama, the number of people with flu symptoms greatly increased during February and shows no signs of slowing down so far in March.
The principle method of flu prevention has been the trivalent inactivated vaccine (Fluvirin, Fluzone), and more recently the live attenuated intranasal vaccine (Flumist). Both of these vaccines provide protection against two strains of influenza A virus (H1N1 and H3N2) and one strain of B virus, which are determined the previous year by studying trends and making predictions based on the previous flu season.
The influenza vaccines are usually administered in October and November to provide optimal protection in time for the winter season. However, vaccine shortages were reported this year due to bacterial contamination of Fluvirin. This initially created panic for those who are at high risk, and it left a large segment of the U.S. population unprotected.
Three antiviral drugs are currently approved for influenza prevention: amantadine
(Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine), and oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Amantadine and
rimantadine are only effective against influenza A and work by inhibiting viral replication.
The most common symptoms of flu are fever, headaches, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and muscle aches. Depending on the type of flu, nausea and vomiting may occur. The fever and aches can last up to five days. The coughing can last up to two weeks.
If you become ill with the flu, follow treatment recommendations. Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol and tobacco.
These medications should be started before or after exposure to an infected person and
continued for at least 10 days or be administered through the influenza season when
the influenza vaccine is either unavailable or inadvisable. Both of these drugs have
been shown to prevent about 50 percent of influenza A infections and 70 to 90 percent
of illnesses.
In addition to antiviral medications for influenza prevention (vaccine or oral
medications), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends some
habits that everyone can follow to help avoid catching and spreading the flu.
First, try to avoid contact with those who are sick. If you do become ill, distance yourself from others by staying at home. Since the flu is spread by respiratory droplets, it is important to cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Another simple precautionary measure is washing your hands. Everyone should
wash their hands often (before and after preparing food, after touching possibly
contaminated objects, and after using the restroom). Wash hands in warm, soapy water for at least 10 to 15 seconds. While the temperature of water used to wash hands is not hot enough to kill germs, using soap and scrubbing your hands, wrists and nails thoroughly helps eliminate germs. After washing, dry hands completely with a paper towel or clean towel. If water is not available, use alcohol-based hand wipes and gel sanitizers that also kill germs. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth even though you may think your hands are clean; you never know if you have touched a contaminated object. Both the influenza A and B viruses can survive on nonporous objects for up to 48 hours and can live on cloth material for a maximum of 8 to 12 hours.
People in a high-risk category should contact their physicians or local pharmacies to get the flu vaccination while it is still available. Individuals not at high risk should talk with a physician or pharmacist about whether to consider prevention with antiviral therapy. Everyone, regardless of risk and preventative medication, should practice general healthy habits as additional means of any illness prevention.
Posted by Jim Langcuster at March 11, 2005 02:36 PM