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The flu season has come again, and with a vengeance. Numerous cases of the influenza (flu) virus have been reported in forty-nine states across the country. One doctor found that 19 percent of the 1,400 patients tested were positive for the flu virus. Although it may seem like a low statistic it is actually very high. We have been affected here at Signature as well. In order to see just how hard Signature was hit this year, a poll was taken of 100 random students. 69 percent of students have missed school because of illnesses in general, and 33 percent were sick with the flu specifically. Of the group of students that missed school days because of sickness, 87 percent came to school while sick anyway for fear of getting behind in their classes. This may be another explanation for why the flu season is hitting Sig so hard-students are coming to school contagious.
These results have many people wondering about the cause of this year's heavy flu season. Research shows that a possible explanation could lie in this year's flu vaccination. The vaccine is a compilation of three different flu virus strains. Two type A family of influenza viruses and one from the type B family. Experts attempt to predict which strains of flu will circulate and create a vaccine for those strains. This is the usual process for the flu vaccine. However, this year both the type B and one of the type A strains were not as good of a match as they might have been. Although the strains in the vaccine lessen the effects of the flu, the vaccine cannot block the virus strains entirely. This year's vaccine blocks only about 40 percent of the flu strains in circulation this season.
The cold and the flu have very similar symptoms. However, flu symptoms are more severe than those of a cold. These symptoms often occur suddenly and include a high fever, usually 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit, weakness, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills, a cough, a runny or stuffy nose and sometimes sneezing.
The flu can be a serious inconvenience once contracted. It is often best not to wait until becoming sick to start treating the illness. Prevention is a great time saver. There are several simple ways to prevent becoming ill. Washing your hands often is a good start. This can reduce the germs that cause the flu. Cover your mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing with a tissue or if one is not at hand, use your arm, not your hands. Germs can live anywhere from hours to days on many surfaces and when you use your hands to cover a sneeze those germs attach themselves to your hands and are transferred to whatever you touch.
Of course, the flu vaccine is also an option, but not everyone is comfortable with needles. An alternative option is a nasal spray. It has been suggested as a viable option for healthy people anywhere between the ages of two and forty-nine. However, this spray is not suggested for pregnant women or those who have interaction with people that have weakened immune systems.
Sources:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23187315/
http://www.sacbee.com/health/story/640818.html
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
http://www.flufacts.com/treatment/antiviral.aspx
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