Seasonal Flu Info

 Seasonal Health Updates: Flu Vaccination 2008-2009

What is Influenza?

Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent this illness is by getting a flu vaccination each fall.

Every year in the United States, on average:

  • Five percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu;
  • More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
  • About 36,000 people die from flu.



Some people, such as older people, young children and people with certain health conditions are at high risk for serious flu complications.

Symptoms of Flu

You are most likely to get the flu virus when an infected person sneezes or coughs near you. The flu virus can be spread up to one day prior to your noticing any symptoms and up to five days after the symptoms develop. Flu symptoms to watch for include:

  • Fever (usually high)
  • Headache
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Dry cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle aches
  • Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults



Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.

How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses spread in respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. They usually spread from person to person, though sometimes people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you can pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick.



Preventing the Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each fall. There are two types of vaccines:

  • The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than six months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
  • The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine"). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people five years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.



About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against influenza-like illnesses caused by other viruses.

When should I get vaccinated for the 2008-09 flu season?

Yearly flu vaccination should begin as soon as the vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January and beyond. Influenza season most often peaks in January or February or later, so for people not able to get their influenza vaccine in the fall, vaccination in December, January and beyond is beneficial in most years . For general information on the timing of flu seasons in the United States, visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce his or her chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications.

People recommended for vaccination during the 2008-09 flu season are:

  • People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
  • Children six months through 18 years of age.
  • Pregnant women.
  • People 50 years of age and older.
  • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.
  • People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
  • People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
    • Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu (see above).
    • Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than six. months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).
    • Healthcare workers, less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated).



Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
  • People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
  • Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
  • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.



The flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains. They are:

  • A/Brisbane/59/2007(H1N1)-like virus
  • A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus
  • B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.



The 2008-09 influenza vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related but different strain of flu virus.

Staying Healthy Tips

Last year's flu shot will not protect you from getting this year's flu. Additional tips for staying healthy this winter include:

  • Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough.
  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water often.
  • Drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick and when you are sick.
  • If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick.



If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, consult your health-care provider.

Important Web Sites



County of Los Angeles Public Health Influenza Summary

http://www.lapublichealth.org/acd/docs/Flu/Influenza%20Summary_07-22-08.pdf

San Bernardino County Flu Shot Locations (East/West Valley)

http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/pubhlth/PDF/FLU08east-westflierEng.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://cdc.gov/Features/FLU/

Vaccine information in English (pdf)

Vaccine information in Spanish (pdf)