Influenza

What is Influenza?

The “flu” is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by an influenza virus.
Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications, and;
• more than 36,000 people die from flu.

Symptoms of Flu

The flu starts suddenly and may include these symptoms:

• fever (usually high)
• chills
• headache
• extreme fatigue/muscle aches
• dry cough
• sore throatStomach/intestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea can occur, but are more common in children than adults.

How Flu Spreads

Flu viruses spread from infected persons in droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. The disease is usually spread from person to person, but infection may also occur when people touch something with the virus on it and then touch their nose or mouth.

Preventing the Flu by Vaccination

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 (killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people with chronic medical conditions.
  
  
• The nasal spray flu vaccine—a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu, is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

When to Get Vaccinated

October or November is the best time to receive the vaccine; however, it may still be beneficial to receive the shot in December or even later. Flu season can begin in October and last until May.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get the vaccine if supplies are available. 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 who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. People at high risk for complications from the flu:
   
   • People 65 years and older;
   • People living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses;
   • Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
   • Adults and children 6 months and older who needed regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or infection with HIV/AIDS);
   • Children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.);
   • Women who will be pregnant during flu season;
   • All children 6 to 23 months of age;
   • People with any condition than can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as a brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.)
     
2. People 50 to 64 years of age. Nearly one third of people in this age group have one or more medical conditions that place them at increased risk for serious flu complications.
   
   
3. People who can transmit flu to others at high risk for complications. Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group (see above) should get vaccinated. This includes all health-care workers, caregivers of children 6 to 23 months of age, and close contacts of people 65 years and older.

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated

Some people should not be vaccinated or should wait before getting vaccinated. They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination in the past.
• People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting a flu vaccine previously.
• Children less than 6 months of age.
• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever. (Vaccination can be given once their symptoms lessen.)

How Can I Learn More?

• Contact Cynthia Bates, RN CIC at 1-423-743-1210
  Director of Infection Control and Education
• Call your local or state health department.
• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
  Call 1-800-232-4636
  Visit CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu