What You Need to Know About Influenza (Flu)...

What are the symptoms of flu?
Typical flu is characterized by sudden onset of fever, muscle aches & pains, sore throat, and non-productive cough.
Unlike other respiratory illnesses, flu symptoms can linger for days. Complications of flu are pneumonia and even death in the most susceptible and frail individuals.

Who can get flu?
Anyone can get flu, but several groups are most susceptible.

• Elderly persons aged 65 and above
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities
• Adults and children with chronic illness such as asthma, diabetes, renal disease, immune suppression
• Children and teens receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the flu season.

How is the flu spread?
Flu is spread from person to person through droplets that are coughed or sneezed into the air. The virus can survive for a short period on inanimate objects like telephones, computer keyboards, doorknobs, pens, pencils, hankerchiefs and tissues.
Touching anything contaminated with the flu virus and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth may result in a case of the flu!
If you exhibit any of the typical flu symptoms - stay home from work or school until the symptoms have improved and you have been evaluated by your physician.

How can flu be prevented?
The best way to prevent flu is through immunization - a flu shot (influenza vaccine).

Are there side effects?
Because influenza vaccine contains only non-infectious viruses it CANNOT cause flu. Some people do complain of respiratory infection after the flu shot, but this is co-incidental illness not related to the vaccine.
The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site which may last for a day or two. Less frequently reported side effects are headache or low grade fever.

Who SHOULD NOT get flu vaccine?
Any person who has an allergy to eggs or any other component of the vaccine should not get the vaccine without first consulting with the family physician.

Who SHOULD get the flu shot?
Flu shots are recommended for those high risk people listed earlier who are most susceptible. Flu shots are also recommended for certain groups who can spread flu to the persons at risk!
They are:

• Physicians, nurses, and other health care personnel
• employees of nursing homes and chronic care facilities providing services to high risk people
• household members (including children) of persons in high risk groups.

Can I get a flu shot if I have a cold?
Those with acute illnesses accompanied by fever should not be vaccinated until the symptoms have subsided. However, mild illness does not prohibit the flu shot.

When are flu shots given?
Beginning each September, when the flu vaccine becomes available, doctors will begin to immunize high risk patients during their routine office visits. Opportunities to vaccinate high risk persons should not be missed.
Organized flu shot campaigns usually begin in October and continue to the end of November.

When is flu season?
In the United States, flu activity generally peaks between late December and early March.

Reference: CDC. Prevention and control of influenza. Recommendations of the advisory committee on immunization practices. MMWR 1998; Vol 47, No. RR-6.

Go back to Infection Control Page

---