Frequently asked questions
What is influenza (flu)?
When does influenza occur?
Who gets influenza?
What are the symptoms of influenza?
How serious is influenza?
How is influenza spread?
How can you prevent influenza?
What are good health habits?
What kinds of influenza vaccine are available?
Can either kind of vaccine give you influenza?
How effective are the vaccines?
Once you get sick with influenza, is there any treatment?
Does past infection with influenza make a person immune?
Who should get influenza vaccine this year?
Where can I get an influenza vaccination?
Where can I get more information about influenza?
What is influenza (flu)?
Influenza, commonly called "the flu," is a lung (respiratory) infection
caused by the influenza virus. Although someone with a mild case of influenza may have
symptoms similar to a cold, most cases of flu are more serious than the common
cold. The flu virus changes slightly each year, so each year a new batch of
vaccine is made.
When does influenza occur?
Influenza occurs in the United States most often in the winter. Flu-like symptoms
in summer months are usually due to other viruses.
Who gets influenza?
Anyone who has not been vaccinated with the current year's flu vaccine can get
influenza. Each year in the United States, about 5-20 percent of the population gets
influenza.
What are the symptoms of influenza?
Influenza symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough, muscle aches, tiredness and
weakness, with congestion in the nose, throat, and lungs. Children may have
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. The
symptoms usually last about three to five days, but in more serious infections,
complications can occur and the illness may last longer.
How serious is influenza?
For most healthy children and adults, influenza will be serious enough to
require bed rest, but most will recover within a week. Flu is most serious for
very young children, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions
such as cancer, chronic lung or kidney disease, insulin-dependent diabetes, or a
weakened immune system. Each year in the United States, more than 200,000 people
need to be hospitalized because of influenza complications, and about 36,000 people
die from influenza. Most deaths occur in people 65 years of age and older.
How is influenza spread?
Influenza spreads easily by coughing or sneezing. This releases droplets from the nose and throat that
contain the flu virus. The influenza virus can also be spread when someone touches
something that has the virus on it, and then touches her or his nose, eyes, or mouth. The
flu can be spread from an infected person from the day before illness
until about seven days after they first have symptoms, so infected people are contagious
before they even know they are sick.
How can you prevent influenza?
The best way to avoid influenza is to get vaccinated each year during the flu
season. Vaccine is especially important for people who
are most at risk for serious flu infections. Good health habits also go a long way
toward preventing the spread of many diseases, including influenza.
What are good health habits?
Good health habits include:
Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you
cough or sneeze, and throw the used tissue in a waste basket. If you don't
have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
Always cleaning your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand
cleaner after coughing or sneezing.
Avoiding sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels, or
other personal items.
Staying home when you're sick.
For more
information, download Preventing the spread of germs,
available in seven languages.
What kinds of influenza
vaccine are available?
There are two kinds of influenza vaccine: the flu shot or Trivalent Inactivated
Vaccine (TIV) is an inactivated vaccine
(contains killed flu virus) that is given in a needle. This vaccine is approved
for people 6 months of age and older.
An influenza vaccine made with live, weakened virus that is sprayed into the nose is
also available for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age. Do not use the nasal
spray flu vaccine or Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) if you are pregnant, or have close contact with people with
weakened immune systems.
Can either kind of vaccine give you
influenza?
No. The flu shot is made from killed influenza virus and can't give you flu; the nasal spray vaccine is made from weakened virus which is not strong
enough to infect people.
How effective are the vaccines?
In general, influenza vaccines are very safe and effective in preventing
serious flu infections with. In healthy people, the vaccine very effectively
prevents flu infections. However, no vaccine is 100 percent effective. It's
possible to get the flu even if you've been vaccinated, although the illness is
likely to be less severe.
In addition, because new influenza viruses appear each
year, the effectiveness of the vaccine can vary from year to year. Studies show
that in years when new influenza strains come out, people at-risk for getting
serious flu who are vaccinated tend to have milder illness and are less likely
to be hospitalized.
Once you get sick with influenza, is there any treatment?
Bed rest and liquids are usually enough to treat influenza. Acetaminophen (or other products
that don’t contain aspirin) can lessen fever and body aches. Aspirin–and other
aspirin-containing products–should not be given to children with
influenza. There
are some prescription drugs that can reduce the severity of influenza in people
at risk for serious infection, if these drugs are taken early in the course of
the
illness. However, these drugs are not a substitute for influenza vaccines (shot
or nasal spray),
which are available to people at-risk through their health care provider or local
health department.
Does past infection with influenza make a person immune?
No. Because viruses that cause influenza change frequently, people who have had
influenza or a flu shot in previous years may become infected with a new strain.
Who should get influenza vaccine this year?
Influenza
vaccine is available to anyone who wants one. The Department of Health (DOH) highly
recommends that children over age 6 months
be vaccinated to prevent the spread of flu. DOH urges those most at
risk of complications from getting influenza to get vaccinated as well. Those most
at risk include:
- All children from age 6 months up to their 19th birthday
.
Adults aged 50 years and older.
Persons aged 2 through 49 years with chronic medical conditions.
All women who will be pregnant during the influenza season.
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
Children aged 6 months through 18 years on chronic aspirin therapy.
Health-care workers involved in direct patient care.
Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children less than six
months of age.
Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of persons in high-risk
groups.
Where can I get an influenza vaccination?
Call your health care provider or local health department to find out about
getting an influenza vaccination. Also, the American Lung Association has an
online Flu Shot Locator (http://www.findaflushot.com/lungusa/).
Although the locator may show that no
vaccine is available near your home, you should check it periodically, because
the supply situation may change.
Where can I get more information about
influenza?
For more information call the:
Communicable Disease Epidemiology Section: (206)
418-5500 or toll-free at 1-877-
539-4344.
American Lung Association: 1-800-LUNG-USA.
You can also visit these Web sites:
CDCs flu Web site: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/.
DOH
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