The flu sheet: facts, tips, what you can do
Flu season's right around the corner and Bloomsburg University's getting ready for it. The Centers for Disease Control say flu season begins in about November and lasts until March. It is caused by the spread of viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. People will touch something with the flu virus on it and then touch an entry way into the body. Adults can spread influenza from a day before symptoms begin through 5 or 10 days of the illness.
Seven flu facts
- Influenza A , B and C are types of influenza viruses that cause human disease
- Types A and B viruses are responsible for the majority of flu illness seen in the US
- In greater than 80 per cent of flu seasons since 1976, peak flu activity (which is often close to the midpoint of influenza activity for the season) has not occurred until January or later
- In greater than 60 per cent of seasons, the peak flu activity was in February or later
- Development of antibodies in adults after vaccination takes approximately 2 weeks
- Children less than 9 years old who receive the flu vaccination for the first time (must receive 2 injections the first year only) will not achieve immunity against the flu until 2 weeks following the second dose of vaccine (total of 6 weeks from first injection)
- Respiratory droplet transmission (coughing or sneezing particles) do not remain suspended in the air because they are heavy and generally travel only a short distance (around 3 feet) through the air, then fall
Did you know that...
- Every year approximately 20 per cent of the United States population gets the flu
- More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications
- On average, about 36,000 people die from the flu in the United States each year
While many students are anxious about getting sick and missing classes and work and others are resigned to it as inevitable, there's definitely things you can do to reduce the spread of the illness and even avoid getting sick at all.
This year the Student Health Center will offer flu shots to students on Monday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Multipurpose Room A, KUB. No appointment is necessary and the cost is $12 per student.
A flu shot clinic for BU employees will be held Monday, Nov. 17. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund, will provide seasonal influenza vaccinations to from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in Multipurpose A, Kehr Union. Employees were required to register online before on Sept. 12 to participate and obtain the necessary registration form to get the shot. Questions should be directed to Kim Fenicchia, benefits assistant in Human Resources.
The Student Health Center is trying to educate the campus community on how to treat and stop the spread of the flu virus this flu season.
Reduce your risk of flu
A few commonsense practices can really reduce your chances of getting sick. A good practice to protecting yourself is to wash your hands frequently, especially:
- Whenever you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose.
- After touching items used by the campus public, i.e.: door handles, phones
- Before you eat
- After using the restroom
- If you have touched items of someone who has the flu
If you are not able to wash your hands right away, use hand sanitizer.
Also, there are other helpful hints to guard yourself from the flu.
- Get plenty of sleep
- Eat healthy foods
- Limit partying and alcohol; moderation is the key
- Drink plenty of fluids each day (at least 64 ounces daily)
- Open the windows in your dorm or apartments at least once a day for 10 to 15 minutes (even in the winter)
9 Signs you've got the flu
Got the flu? On occasions symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur but these are more common in children The common symptoms:
- Fever, usually 100 to 102 degrees - maybe higher, especially in young children
- Fever may last for 3 to 4 days
- Headache
- Severe general body aches and pains
- Fatigue and weakness that can last up to 2 to 3 weeks.
- A feeling of exhaustion is common at the beginning of the illness.
- Head congestion, sneezing
- Coughing, sore throat
- Chest congestion and discomfort, which can become severe
Flu Shots - who should, who shouldn't
The best method of avoiding the flu is to get a flu shot. The shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle and syringe. It'll either protect you from getting the flu or it may make the illness milder if you develop a related but different strain of the flu.
Flu shots are recommended for persons aged 6 months and older. Those people who should absolutely get the vaccine are:
- Children aged 6 months up to age 19
- Pregnant women
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live or care for those at risk for complications from the flu (i.e. health workers, household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu, household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age)
People who should not receive the shot include:
- People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs
- People who have had a severe reaction to influenza vaccination in the past
- People who developed Guillain-Barre 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.
Unfortunately the vaccine last flu season was only 44 per cent effective against the different strains of the virus. You may have been one of those people who received the shot and got sick anyway. However, this year U.S. Regulators have added 3 new virus strains in hope of achieving higher protection rates.
A nasal spray flu vaccine is an alternative to a flu shot. Vaccination with the nasal spray live flu vaccine is an option for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group. The one exception is healthy persons who care for persons with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected environment; these healthy persons should get the inactivated flu vaccine. This option is available only from your family doctor; it won't be offered at the clinics.
What to do if you're sick...
If you do become infected with the flu, there are some medications which can decrease the severity and duration of the symptoms. There are two approved influenza antiviral medications recommended for use in the United States during the 2008 - 2009 influenza season: Tamiflu (oseltamivir), and Relenza (zanamivir). Antiviral medications are 70 per cent to 90 per cent effective in preventing influenza and are useful adjuncts to vaccination.
Expect to pay about $8 per pill for Tamiflu. You will need to buy 10 pills (a 5 day supply) for each course of therapy. You must take Tamiflu within 40 hours of the onset of flu symptoms which will then give you a 1.3 day reduction in time to improvement. In other words, if you take Tamiflu within the first 40 hours of illness, you will recuperate one day earlier than if you did not take any of the medication.
The CDC says these antiviral drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the amount of time you are sick by one or two days.