Q&A about Influenza
What is influenza?
Influenza more commonly known as the seasonal flu is caused by a highly contagious virus. Influenza can cause mild or severe disease. Many deaths have been attributed to influenza complications. The virus is able to “shed its coat” every year and this makes it difficult to develop immunity against the virus. The body does not recognize the “new coat” and infection is able to occur with each new flu strain.
What are the symptoms associated with the flu?
The most common symptoms are:
· fatigue
· fever
· sore throat
· runny or stuff nose
· cough
· muscle aches
What are some complications arising from influenza?
Some complications of the flu include ear and sinus infections, dehydration, and bacterial pneumonia. It is the complications of the flu that can make it fatal.
How dangerous is influenza?
The influenza virus can be very dangerous or present with only a mild infection depending on the strain of virus that is spreading the current year. In 1918, an extremely deadly strain of the influenza virus spread and killed about 50 million people!
Who is at the greatest risk of getting the flu?
Elderly persons, pregnant women, and children have a greater chance of getting the disease. However, immunocompromised people are also very vulnerable to the virus.
How does the flu spread?
The flu virus spreads mainly through droplets formed when a person sneezes or coughs in the vicinity of other people. When another person breathes in the small contaminated droplets in the air, the virus gains access to the body and begins infection. Infrequently, the flu may spread through fomites which are inanimate objects that have the virus on it.
Can I spread the flu before I start feeling sick, and how long till I am not contagious?
Yes, it possible to spread the virus before a person begins feeling sick. Usually 1 day before a person begins feeling sick they are contagious. People with influenza can spread the virus up to 5-7 days after becoming sick.
How do I prevent the flu?
A seasonal flu vaccine is created every year which contains the current year’s strains that predicted to spread. It is important to get vaccinated every year because new strains are added to the vaccine and strains that are no longer thought to spread for the season are removed. Additionally, it is very important to wash your hands with soap and water and/or alcohol hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of the virus.
What strains are included in this year’s seasonal flu vaccine?
The following stains are included in this year’s vaccine: an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)–like virus; A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)–like virus; and a B/Brisbane/60/2008–like virus
How effective is the influenza vaccine?
The influenza has been found to be about 70-90% effective in healthy persons younger than 65. However, the vaccine will only be effective for the strains that are included in it for that year. This means it is possible to get the flu if a strain is circulating that has not been included in the seasonal flu vaccine.
References:
http://www.vaccineinformation.org/flu/qandavax.asp
Pregnant Women Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza
Pregnant women are extremely vulnerable to Influenza!
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the CDC recommends women who are pregnant or will be pregnant during the flu season (October to May) to get vaccinated against the flu.
The inactivated flu vaccine has been found to be safe for administration during any stage of pregnancy and no adverse effects on infants have been reported. However, pregnant women should avoid getting the nasal (weakened live virus) flu vaccine during pregnancy due to potential risk to the fetus.
Many women believe that it could be dangerous to get vaccinated against influenza during pregnancy due to complications to the fetus. However, in fact, not getting vaccinated against the flu puts the fetus at increased risk. During the 1918 flu epidemic 52% of influenza cases among pregnant women resulted in spontaneous abortions or premature deliveries.
Vaccinating pregnant women against influenza is beneficial for the infant because infants are able to contract the disease easily and are more susceptible to disease complications such as pneumonia. It is recommended that infants 6-23 months of age be vaccinated against the influenza virus. Mothers may be able to provide passive immunity to the fetus if vaccinated in the later trimesters which will protect the infants until they are old enough to receive the flu vaccine. Serological studies suggest that pregnant women are able to mount an effective immune response to the influenza vaccine.
Pregnant women may also be at risk if they are not vaccinated. Studies have found that pregnant women have an increased risk of influenza than non-pregnant women of the same age. This is because pregnant women have some physiological changes that occur during pregnancy such as an increased heart rate, a decrease in lung capacity, and a weakened immune response. In fact, during the 1918 flu epidemic pregnant women had a 50% mortality rate.
If you are pregnant protect yourself and your baby by getting vaccinated against the flu!
References: