Influenza (Flu)
What is the influenza? The flu, or influenza, is a
respiratory infection caused by type A and type B influenza viruses. For the state
of West Virginia, the flu season normally begins in mid January and runs through early
March.
The flu is very contagious and is normally contracted
through the mucous membranes in the mouth, nose or eyes. When a person with the flu
coughs or sneezes, the virus becomes airborne and can be inhaled by anyone nearby.
The flu virus can live for eight to twelve hours on surfaces, such as
tables, door knobs, etc.
Symptoms: The flu virus generally takes 1
to 3 days, after exposure, before the infected person starts showing symptoms. The
onset of the flu often seems sudden: people describe severe muscle aches and total body
discomfort. Common flu symptoms include sudden onset, fever and chills, cough,
muscle and joint pain, headache, fatigue and weakness. Some people also get a stuffy
nose and sore throat.
Is the flu dangerous? A bad case of the flu can send
a healthy person to bed for three to five days. The person will probably fully recover,
however cough and tiredness may persist for days or weeks. It can be a serious illness in some people. Each year
up to 40 million Americans develop the flu and about 150,000 are hospitalized.
During past epidemics in the United States, influenza and its complications have caused
between 10,000 and 40,000 deaths. People over the age of 50 and those of all ages with
chronic illness (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, asthma and HIV) are more likely to become
seriously ill with flu. The same high risk groups described here are at a greater
risk for developing complications from the flu like pneumonia. If you are over 50 or
have a chronic disease, contact your doctor at the first sign of the flu.
Prevention: To prevent getting the flu, or
to lessen the severity of the flu, you should get a flu shot each fall especially if you
are over age 50 or have a chronic health problem. A flu vaccination is your best chance to protect yourself
against the flu.
Contact your primary care physician or
Local Health Department about the availability of this vaccine.
Here are the Vaccine Information Satements
for Influenza:
Additional Information
Please visit the Centers for Disease Control and
Preventions flu website or
call 1-800-CDC-INFO.
US government's official
pandemic flu and avian flu
website.
CDC's Avian
Flu website.
CDC's
flu
vaccine bulletins provide the most recent developments in
vaccine supply, production, and distribution.
Questions and answers on flu
vaccine
administration.
Information Sheets and Web Links
The following are information sheets that can be
used and distributed throughout the flu season.
The links below give recommendations on protecting
yourself from the flu and provides signs to print out for work and
school, by the CDC.
-
Information on stopping the spread of flu, who is at
high-risk and information to print and display at work and
school.
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Ways to stop the spread of GERMS at
home,
work and school.
-
Germ stopping
signs
to hang up at work and school.
Antiviral medications for
preventing AND treating the flu. Please consult your physician for
these medications.
Track the flu
|
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention Informational Websites
|
Pictures of the flu.
Long-Term Care
Facility Study
-
Here is an
abstract on influenza vaccination in long-term care
facilities in West Virginia.
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Click here for a
PowerPoint presentation on influenza vaccination in
long-term care facilities in West Virginia
