InFLUenza: Early 2012 Update and Tips for Staying Healthy

Flu News:

• 2011-2012 Flu Season: So Far, So Good
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) flu prevalence maps indicate flu season is off to a slow start. But don’t be complacent: Flu activity most often peaks during the month of FEBRUARY.
• Flu Season is Unpredictable
  In the U.S., on average, 5 -20% of the population gets the flu each year, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications. According to CDC, flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Just because you have never had the flu doesn’t mean you won’t get it this year.
• Flu Risk by Zip Code?
  One study correlated the percentage of children in a given zip code with the risk of ending up in the Emergency Room with the flu. Preventing the spread of flu in children may be an important factor in slowing a flu epidemic. Experts recommend that everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccination each year.
• Vaccination Statistics
  According to CDC, the best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. As of November, 2011, only approximately 36% of Americans age six months and older had obtained a flu vaccination (CDC). Most individuals are vaccinated in doctor’s offices; other popular locations are other healthcare settings, pharmacies and stores, and the workplace.
• Vaccine Protection
  The 2011-2012 vaccine is a three-component vaccine that protects against each of three main groups of influenza viruses currently circulating in humans. According to CDC, based on a recommendation from the World Health Organization, the Northern Hemisphere’s 2011-2012 seasonal influenza vaccine contains the following three vaccine viruses:

  An A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus
  An A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus
  A B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.

• A Reason to Practice Flu Prevention
  On average, flu-related complications claim 36,000 lives each year in the US in one study, according to CDC. These rates can range from a low of approximately 3,000 deaths to a high of about 49,000 deaths according to another study. Anyone can get the flu, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications. These include: people 65 years and older; people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (e.g., asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women and young children.
• Flu or Cold?
  Flu and cold are not the same. Use this interactive chart of symptoms to help you distinguish flu from cold.

Ralph Morris, MD, MPH, is a Physician and Preventive Medicine and Public Health official living in Bemidji, MN.