As of April, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes swine flu has likely infected more than 1 million Americans, with many of those suffering mild cases never reported. There have been 302 deaths between April and July 2009 in the US from the Swine Flu (H1N1 flu virus); where last year alone over 36,000 people in the US died from the typical flu virus.
Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is an extremely contagious viral disease that sweeps the country every year from November through April, and peaks between December and early March. Because the virus first attacks the respiratory system, it is very serious for people with asthma, severe respiratory allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other chronic lung ailments; and it can sometimes lead to pneumonia.
The flu is most commonly transmitted from person to person through inhalation of tiny droplets of contaminated saliva that spread into the air when an infected person sneezes. These droplets can survive in the air for up to 3 hours. Touching anything that has been handled or contaminated by an infected person can also spread the flu. For these reasons it is very contagious in a setting such as a school classroom where children are in close contact for hours at a time. Further, a recent study reported that when children sneeze, they shed a much higher concentration of the virus than do adults.
Each year, between 25 and 50 million Americans are infected with the flu. Up to 20,000 people in the US die each year from the flu alone, and an estimated 40,000 die from flu-related complications, including pneumonia. Most of these are senior citizens, newborns, people with weakened immune systems or those with chronic lung, heart or kidney problems.
The Influenza Vaccine
The common “flu” is divided into three categories: Types A, B and C. The major difference between these strains is that type A mutates constantly, yielding new strains of the virus every few years, and sometimes yearly. This means that a permanent immunity or anti-body to the flu cannot be developed. Types B and C are less common and are responsible for local outbreaks and milder cases. It is Type A that is the culprit for major epidemics every year throughout the world; however, it is Type B that is linked to the development of Reye’s syndrome, a sometimes-fatal complication of the flu and other viral infections, such as Chicken Pox.The flu vaccine that is given each year is “trivalent”, meaning that it is designed to protect against three different strains of the virus (one influenza B and two influenza A strains).
Who Should Receive the Flu Vaccine?
- Anyone over the age of 50. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has lowered the recommended immunization age from 65 to 50 for people who are in good health.)
- Young children who attend day care or pre-school.
- Adults and children with chronic health conditions such as asthma, respiratory disease, diabetes, kidney disease, heart conditions, blood disorders, immune deficiency and AIDS. (Note: the CDC recommends immunization for children over the age of 6 months with asthma.)
- Anyone who resides in a long-term care facility such as a nursing home.
- Woman who are more than 3 months pregnant.
- Children (aged 6 months to 8 years) who receive long-term aspirin therapy and may be at risk for developing Reye’s syndrome.
- Anyone undergoing cancer treatments or cortisone therapy.
- Health care givers and medical professionals, who are in frequent, close contact with anyone in the high-risk groups listed above.
- Anyone who would like to reduce their chance of getting the flu.
Because the vaccine is altered each year based on the particular flu strains known to be circulating, a new flu shot should be given every year from October to mid November to anyone in the high-risk categories listed. Receiving flu shot each year will significantly reduce your chances of getting the flu or, at the very least, it will make the symptoms less severe if you do get the flu.
Jacqueline Trovato - Jackie is a published writer with over twenty five years of experience in marketing communications and public relations for the Department ...
