Texas-sized flu season expected

Caroline Fry

The Signal Staff

Flu season has arrived early this year and H1N1 adds additional concern among the population regarding prevention and vaccinations.

H1N1, commonly known as swine flu, is one of many strains of the flu and currently still very active in the U.S.  Vaccinations for H1N1 will be available in the U.S. the first week in October.  Recipients of this vaccination were originally expected to receive two injections, but it has recently been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that only one dose is needed unless the recipient is 9 years of age or younger; these recipients will receive two doses.

Common symptoms of the H1N1 virus are similar to the seasonal flu, but include fever, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.  Noted cases of this virus have ranged from mild to severe, but there have been some that have ended in death.

“Walgreens is expected to give two million vaccinations this year because of the H1N1 virus,” said Robert Elfinger, Walgreens spokesperson.  “Last year we only gave out one million.”

The H1N1 vaccine will not protect people from contracting seasonal influenza; a separate vaccine is needed for this strain of flu.  There are two types of vaccines available this year for the seasonal flu, the flu shot and the nasal-spray flu vaccine.  The flu shot is traditionally given in the arm with a needle and most people ages 6 months and older are recommended to receive this vaccine. The nasal-spray flu vaccine is available for people ages 2-49 years of age; pregnant women are not recommended to use this vaccine. Vaccines will be available to the University of Houston-Clear Lake community the first week in October.

“The regular flu season vaccine has a six month protection window,” said Susan Prihoda RN, family nurse practitioner and director of health and disability services at UHCL. “If you take it too early, you run the risk of losing your protection before April 2010, with January through March 2010 being peak season.”

Vaccinations for both the seasonal flu and H1N1 are approved to be administered within the same day for each person, but because the H1N1 vaccine is not available yet, it is recommended that individuals get their seasonal flu shot as soon as possible.

All age groups are at risk with contracting the flu virus.  Young children, pregnant women, adults over the age of 65 and people with certain health issues, including a weakened immune system, are more susceptible to contracting the virus.  Although vaccination is promoted as a key prevention tool, not everyone is recommended to receive the vaccine.

“Anyone who has allergies to eggs or allergies to previous influenza vaccines should not receive a vaccination,” said Dr. Konrad Harms, physician of obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph Medical Center.

While vaccination is considered the best prevention, there are many other ways to prevent contraction of the flu.  Frequently washing hands with soap and water and covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve are also effective ways of prevention of catching the flu.

Seasonal influenza is commonly recognized by a combination of the following symptoms: high fever, dry cough, headache, muscle aches, sore throat and runny nose. The recovery time from the flu is averaged at a week, but people with health risks may experience further illness including hospitalization caused by the onset of bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, dehydration or worsening symptoms of preexisting medical conditions.

The Texas Department of State Health Services currently classifies the flu activity in Texas as widespread or increased flu-like symptoms and recent lab-confirmed flu cases in at least half of the state’s regions.

The flu spreads easily from person to person through coughing or sneezing of someone who already has the flu. It’s a virus that spreads quickly and if prevention techniques are not followed there is always potential of a flu pandemic.

“UHCL has a specific plan for a flu pandemic following the American Collegiate Health Association guidelines based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines specific for universities and colleges,” Prihoda said.

For more information regarding the flu, visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/ or http://www.cdc.gov/.

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