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What is seasonal flu (influenza)?
Influenza (commonly called the flu) infects the
nose, throat, windpipe, and lungs (respiratory tract). We call the flu that
comes every year the "seasonal" or "yearly" flu. In the United States, about
36,000 people die and over 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu.
What is
a pandemic?
Pandemic is the term used for any disease that
spreads rapidly around the world, affecting large numbers of people and for
which no natural immunity or immediately available treatment or prevention
exists. A new strain of influenza that people have not been exposed to
before can become a pandemic if it spreads worldwide.
What is
H1N1 (swine flu)?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease in pigs
caused by a type A influenza virus. Viruses that cause swine flu do not
normally infect humans. The H1N1 virus we are now concerned with originally
came from pigs, but combined with other types of viruses to make a new virus
that now spreads from person to person. In June 2009, the World
Health Organization declared H1N1 (swine flu) a pandemic. More information
on H1N1 is available on the
Department
of Health's H1N1 (swine flu) Web page.
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Influenza
vs. the "Flu"
Influenza is commonly called the "flu."
However, not all things called the "flu" are caused by influenza, so how do
you know? Influenza infects the nose, throat, windpipe, and lungs
(respiratory tract), but not the intestines (gastrointestinal or GI tract).
So seasonal flu is not the same as what many people call the "stomach flu."
The best way to tell if you have influenza is for a health care provider to
swab your throat and have a laboratory confirm the diagnosis.
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Causes, Symptoms, and Spread
What does seasonal flu
cause?
The seasonal flu causes mild to severe illness
and can lead to serious illness and death. Some people, such as older people,
young children, and people with certain health conditions (like asthma,
diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious seasonal flu
complications.
What are the symptoms of
seasonal flu?
People with seasonal flu often have high fever,
cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue (tiredness), headache, and sometimes
nasal congestion. If you or someone you know has these symptoms and they are
severe, contact your doctor, nurse, or clinic as soon as possible. The best
way to tell if you have seasonal flu is for a health care provider to
swab your throat and have a laboratory confirm the diagnosis.
How does seasonal flu spread?
The seasonal flu spreads easily from
person-to-person by coughing and sneezing. Influenza viruses change each
year and this is why it's called "seasonal" or "yearly" flu. A new batch of
vaccine is made each year based on these viruses. Get vaccinated every year
for the best protection against influenza.
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Who Should Get Vaccinated?
Who should get
seasonal flu vaccine?
Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to prevent
seasonal influenza. The Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommend that the following groups get a seasonal flu vaccine:
- All children ages 6 months up to the 19th birthday.
- All adults age 50 years and older.
- Children and adults of any age with certain chronic health conditions or
special health care needs, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, cystic
fibrosis, asthma and other breathing problems, sickle cell anemia, and cerebral
palsy.
- Pregnant women.
- People who live or work in long-term care facilities.
- Household contacts and caregivers of people in any of the above groups.
- Health care professionals.
- Household contacts and caregivers of children, especially those in contact with babies under
six months of age who
are too young to get seasonal flu vaccine.
- Anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu.
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Vaccine Protects Throughout Flu Season
Get immunized when vaccine is available
Get yourself and your family immunized when seasonal flu vaccine is available. Protection will last throughout the
flu season. Currently, there is a delay in getting seasonal flu vaccine in
Washington State, and we know this is frustrating. Please be patient and
know that the state has not yet received its full order of vaccine. The good
news is that there is still time to get vaccinated--there is almost no
seasonal flu disease at this time and it usually doesn’t peak until February
or March. Call your doctor, nurse, clinic, or local health department
regularly about available vaccine in your community.
Seasonal flu vaccine will not protect
against H1N1 (swine flu). They are different viruses even though their
symptoms may be similar. Remember, two types of flu mean two vaccines.
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Find a Vaccine
How to find a
seasonal flu vaccine
- Call your doctor, nurse, or clinic.
- Check the American Lung Association’s
Flu Shot Locator.
- Contact your
local
health department.
- Call the Family Health Hotline at
1-800-322-2588.
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Seasonal
Flu Vaccine Comes in Two Types
You can choose from two types of seasonal flu vaccine recommended for
different groups of people. If you’re not sure which is best for you or your
child, ask your doctor, nurse, or clinic. With either vaccine, children under
age nine may need two doses in the same flu season if they have not received
flu vaccine before or if they have not received two seasonal flu shots in
one season.
Flu shot
The flu shot, or Trivalent Inactivated Vaccine (TIV), contains inactivated (killed) viruses and may cause
some soreness where the shot is given. The seasonal flu shot can be given to anyone age
six months and older.
Nasal spray
The nasal spray flu vaccine, or Live, Attenuated
Influenza Vaccine (LAIV), contains live, weakened flu viruses. The spray can
cause mild congestion and runny nose. Some may get a low-grade fever or feel
achy for 1-2 days while their immune system responds to the vaccine. It can be given
to healthy children over age 2 and non-pregnant teens and adults under 49 years. Check with your health care provider or local pharmacy about how to
get the nasal spray (commonly called FluMist).
Find information on flu vaccine, TIV, and LAIV on the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site.
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Can Vaccine Give You the Flu?
Flu vaccine cannot give you the flu
Some people incorrectly believe that they
can get influenza from the vaccine. This is not true. The influenza shot
only contains proteins from the influenza virus, so the virus cannot
reproduce itself and cause illness. While the nasal spray vaccine contains
live influenza virus, the virus has been weakened in the laboratory, so it
cannot grow in the lungs and cannot cause the flu.
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Mercury-free Flu Vaccines
Mercury-free seasonal flu vaccines exist and
meet the requirements of the mercury-limiting law that went into effect in
Washington State on
July 1, 2007. The law requires that pregnant women and children under age
three
be given vaccines that are considered mercury-free (or thimerosal-free).
Thimerosal is a preservative still used in some vaccines to prevent
contamination. Thimerosal contains a
type of mercury called ethylmercury. Studies show that ethylmercury breaks
down and leaves the body more quickly than methylmercury (the type of
mercury found in the environment). A thimerosal-free influenza vaccine is defined as having less
than 1.0 microgram of mercury per 0.5 milliliter dose.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or clinic about mercury-free seasonal flu vaccines for you or
your child or if you have further questions about this law.
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Good Health Habits
Protect
yourself and others: use good health habits
Take these simple
precautions to help prevent the spread of seasonal flu and other lung and breathing (respiratory) diseases:
- Get a seasonal flu vaccine every year.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your upper sleeve, not your bare
hand.
- Use a tissue to wipe your nose, then throw the tissue away.
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand gel or disposable
wipes.
- Stay home and away from others while you or
your family members are
sick.
- Wear a mask to cover your face in a medical office, if asked.
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Antibiotics
Important information about antibiotics
Antibiotics don't work against viruses such as colds or influenza. If you take
antibiotics for a viral illness, you could develop resistant germs or "superbugs."
Then, when you really need the antibiotic for a serious bacterial
infection, it may not work. Find
more information on our antibiotics page.
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Order free
influenza education materials from the Immunization Program CHILD Profile, including:
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For Schools and Child Care
Facilities
Actions for
schools and child care facilities
CDC Guidelines and Materials.
Facts,
recommendations, and posters to help schools and child care providers prevent the spread of flu from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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En Español
Recursos en el idioma
español
Información en la Red en español
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Related
Links
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