Last Updated:
09/29/11 09:30:34 AM
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Influenza (Flu) Information |
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Key Facts about Influenza
and the Influenza Vaccine |
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What is Influenza (Also Called
Flu)? |
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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 the flu
is by getting a flu vaccination each year. |
Every year in the United States, on
average:
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5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
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more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu
complications, and;
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about 36,000 people die from flu
Some people, such as older people,
young children, and people with certain health conditions
(such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high
risk for serious flu complications. |
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Symptoms of
Flu Include |
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fever (usually high)
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headache
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extreme tiredness
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dry cough
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sore throat
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runny or stuffy nose
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muscle aches
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Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea,
also can occur but are more common in children than adults
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Complications of Flu |
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Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear
infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of
chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart
failure, asthma, or diabetes. |
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How Flu
Spreads |
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Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through
coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes
people may 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 1 day
before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after
becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on
the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as
well as while you are sick. |
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Preventing
the Flu: Get Vaccinated |
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The single best way to
prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. There
are two types of vaccines:
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The "flu shot" - an inactivated
vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a
needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people 6
months of age and older, including healthy people and
people with chronic medical conditions.
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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
2 - 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 flu-like illnesses caused by
non-influenza viruses. |
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When to Get
Vaccinated |
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Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon
as vaccine is available and continue throughout the
influenza season, into December, January and beyond. This
is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons may
vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as
October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in
January or later. |
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Who Should
Get Vaccinated? |
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In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of
getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain
people should get vaccinated each year either because they
are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications
or because they live with or care for high risk persons.
During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or
delayed, the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
makes recommendations regarding priority groups for
vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
- Children aged 6 months up to their 19th
birthday
- 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:
- Health care 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 (these
children are too young to be vaccinated)
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Use of the
Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine |
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Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option
for healthy* people 2 - 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 vaccine. |
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Who Should
Not Be Vaccinated |
Some people should not
be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They
include:
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People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
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People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza
vaccination in the past.
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People who developed
Guillain-Barré
syndrome (GBS)
within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
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Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not
approved for use in this age group).
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People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever
should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
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If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine,
consult your health-care provider. |
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Good Health
Habits for Preventing the Flu |
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The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get
vaccinated each year, but good health habits like
covering your cough and washing your hands often can help
prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There are also
flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and
prevent the flu.
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Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you
are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them
from getting sick too.
- Stay
home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands
when you are sick. You will help prevent others from
catching your illness.
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Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or
sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting
sick.
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Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from
germs.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something
that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or
her eyes, nose, or mouth.
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Practice other good health habits
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your
stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
*”Healthy”
indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical
condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.
The
information on this page was gathered from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. |
NV
State Health Division
