Flu Facts

Flu season varies but generally begins in the United States around October and runs through the following spring. The months when flu season has peaked the most in the over the past 34 years are February (14 seasons), December (7 seasons), March (6 seasons) and January (5 seasons). Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies that protect against influenza virus infection to develop inside the body, it is best that people get vacci- nated before influenza begins spreading intheir community.

An antigen is a substance that causes your immune system to produce antibod- ies against it. Each strain of the virus has different surface antigens. Your immune system produces specific antibodies to each antigen. The antigens of the attacking virus leave an imprint on the memory of your immune system so they can respond im- mediately to a second exposure of the same antigen and prevent a second infection.image079

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone six months of age and older. The traditional seasonal influenza vaccine is a trivalent for- mula consisting of two strains of influenza A virus and a single strain of influenza B virus. However, since 1985, two distinct lineages of influenza B virus have co- circulated. The use of a four-strain in- fluenza vaccine called quadrivalent may now provide protection against both in- fluenza B lineages. The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV) should not be used during 2016- 2017.

Who doesn’t get a flu vaccination?

Despite best attempts of “Healthy People 2010” to achieve a 60 percent coverage rate for high-risk adults, less than 40 percent of individuals with COPD were vaccinated. University of Mexico study findings in Pharmacy Times suggested that the older the individual, the more likely they were to have been vaccinated. People who were never married had a significantly lower likelihood of being vaccinated in compari- son to those who were married, divorced, widowed or separated.

Additionally, participants who were current smokers or who had not seen a health care provider for a checkup in a year or more were also less likely to be vaccinated.

Get a friend to go with you for your flu shots and reward yourselves afterwards with lunch or a shopping trip to buy your- self a present!

image081-1FLU QUIZ

  1. Influenza is caused by:
    1. A type of bacteria
    2. A virus
    3. A small parasitic animal
    4. We don’t know

2)A flu vaccine can’t give you the True or False?

3)What chance does a healthy person have of getting the flu during an average year?

    1. About 75% b) About 50% c) 10%-20% d) Under 2%
  2. The stomach flu and influenza are the same thing. True or False?
  3. Which of the following common symptoms is not usually a feature of flu in adults?
    1. Chills, high fever
    2. Muscle aches and pains
    3. A runny nose, sore throat, cough
    4. Vomiting, diarrhea
  4. What is the best time of year to be vaccinated against influenza?
    1. In autumn, prior to peak flu season
    2. In summer, well before the next peak flu season
    3. As soon as flu symptoms develop
    4. Anytime, it makes no difference
  5. Getting a flu vaccine in December is not too late. True or False?
  • How long after exposure to the influenza virus do people develop symptoms?
    1. 24 hours b) 2-3 days
    2. c) Two weeks d) A month
  1. Flu viruses change constantly which requires a new vaccine to be produced each year. True or False?
  2. Washing your hands is the best thing you can do to protect against the True or False?
  3. Antiviral medicines such as Relenza (zanamivir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir) are sometimes used to treat These drugs:
    1. Are available over the counter froma pharmacist
      1. Always cure the flu
      2. Need to be used within two days of onset to be effective
      3. Are necessary for most people with uncomplicated flu
      4. Your chance of avoiding catching seasonal flu after being vaccinated is: a) 100% b) 70%-90%
  1. c) 50% d) 10%
  2. The flu is not True or False?
  3. During a case of the flu, which of the following is a sign you urgently need to see a doctor?
    1. Dry cough
    2. Sore throat
    3. Runny nose
    4. Shortness of breath
  4. Which of the following is a way in which flu can be spread?
    1. Droplets in the air that are breathed out or sneezed out
    2. Smog and other air pollution
    3. Flu vaccine
    4. Wearing a face mask
  5. You can spread the flu to others before you have True or False?
  6. Bacterial pneumonia is a major complication of influenza. True or False?

18)An episode of an infectious disease that spreads worldwide is known as a:

pandemiC image083-1

b) epidemic

c) outbreak

d) endemic

 

 

 

 

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