The Signal

The flu claims, on average, 36,000 lives each year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.  Flu season runs from October until the end of March.

“We follow CDC and State of Texas Health Department recommendations that all people over six months old be vaccinated,” said Susan Leitner Prihoda RN, MS, director of health and disability services at UHCL and family nurse practitioner. “Senior citizens are receiving a more potent vaccine this winter which is funded by Medicare.”

In 2009, a new flu virus called H1N1, also known as the swine flu, spread worldwide making it the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years.

“The flu vaccine that is being given this year is a combination of seasonal flu and H1N1 so only one shot is necessary for the entire flu season,” Prihoda said.

Getting the flu shot early in the season is instrumental, Prihoda advises.

“It is very important to get the flu shot as soon as possible; last year we really didn’t see many cases until late October, this year we saw patients with the flu in early September,” said Kerry McCarroll, doctor at Medic Lane Physicians located in Alvin.

Many people are under the impression that you can get the flu from the flu shot, but the CDC reports this is completely false. CDC reported that the viruses contained in the flu shot are inactivated (killed) which means they cannot cause a person to get the flu.

“The flu shot has a two-week incubation period, so if you come in contact with the flu virus in that time period, you could contract the flu,” McCarroll said.

The flu vaccine used for adults has small amounts of mercury and thimerosal. Thimerosal is a preservative that has been used in vaccines for more than 70 years and is added to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi in multi-dose vials.

“Data from several studies show the low doses of thimerosal in vaccines do not cause harm, and are only associated with minor local injection site reactions like redness and swelling at the injection site,” reports the CDC on their website. Now ever since 2001, no vaccines for children under six have included thimerosal as a result of allegations that link it to autism. To date, no studies have been able to prove exposure to thimerosal is linked to autism.

Some doctors do not believe the flu shot is a necessary precaution to the flu season.

“There are many studies that link mercury in vaccines to Alzheimer’s Disease, I don’t want to give a shot that could maybe contribute to that,” said Wayne Browne, D.C. (doctorate of chiropractic), A.C.N. (applied clinical nutritionist), at the Center for Alternative Medicine.

“There are virtually no side effects from the flu vaccine,” Prihoda said. “We have not seen any major side effects from the flu vaccine. I personally experienced a bit of point tenderness in my arm after the injection for about 24 hours.”

There are certain people who could experience major side effects and should not get the flu shot. People who have ever had severe allergic reaction to eggs or to previous flu shots or people with a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome that occurred after receiving the flu vaccine should not get a flu shot reports the CDC.

Browne gives his patients herbal supplements that help boost a person’s T-cell counts to help prepare their bodies in case of coming down with the flu.

“The herbal supplements will not prevent a person from getting the flu, but if a person contracts the flu while on the supplements they will probably get a much less severe case and be able to fight it off more efficiently,” Browne said.

Browne said that when people get the flu and use the supplements, it allows their bodies to naturally defend itself against the virus, so that if they ever get it again their bodies can fight it off physically.

One preventive that he likes to give his patients ahead of flu season is a vitamin D supplement.

“Most people are vitamin D deficient, and research shows in several cases that people that contract the flu are deficient in vitamin D,” Browne said.

Doctors’ opinions may differ on whether or not to get the flu shot, but all agree that the flu is a serious virus and needs to be treated one way or another.

“The flu can be life threatening,” Prihoda said. “It particularly is dangerous to the very young, elderly and chronically ill. The time to get vaccinated is now.”

The flu shot is widely available at local pharmacies and the UHCL Health Center. The flu shot cost students $25 in the student health center.  For more information, visit www.uhcl.edu/health or www.flu.gov.

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/.

Most of us already know flu season has arrived early this year and the panic induced by H1N1 (swine) flu seems to be worse than the virus itself.

Yes, the flu is a serious illness, but rushing to the doctor demanding a flu shot for the common cold will only add problems to the situation. If you have a low fever, a cough, the sniffles or a slight headache, the flu should not be your first worry.

Influenza occurs in three levels of intensity: A, B and C. Class C influenza is the least harmful and class A influenza has the most potential of becoming an epidemic because of its ability to create new strains of itself to which humans potentially do not have immunity.

H1N1 is an influenza A virus so, understandably, there is a cause for concern. In general, the media has overreacted by putting H1N1 in the spotlight focusing on the fact that the virus has taken nearly 600 lives; however, on average 36,000 die in the aftermath of each flu season.

The elderly, 65 and older, compose 90 percent of the annual flu deaths. Infants, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses such as cancer and HIV are also most at risk during flu season.

The government is now taking extra steps to help curb the potential devastating effects of H1N1, but some of their methods are extremely inappropriate.

Discussions at the International Swine Flu Conference, held in Washington D.C. in late-August, turned some heads when “unwillingness to follow government orders” was proposed as a psychological problem in the event of an H1N1 pandemic.

These government leaders were proposing that all citizens be forced to receive vaccinations for both the normal flu season and H1N1. Regardless of the fact that it is impossible to vaccinate the entire U.S. population, it is dangerous and unnecessary to impose such a mandate.

Viruses are tricky because they are extremely adaptable. Even with vaccination, the flu still affects humans because there is an entire range of different strains of the virus. We can be vaccinated against one only to contract a mutated or new strain.

Simple preventative measures, such as routinely washing your hands or coughing and sneezing into your shoulder instead of into your palm, can be an effective way to protect your health during flu season.

The key signs that you may have the flu are a high fever (usually over 100 degrees), muscle aches, chills and constant fatigue. The best way to prevent spreading the flu if you become ill is to stay away from public areas.

Wearing a flu mask is not effective in preventing spread of the flu because most people do not wear them properly, or do not keep them on at all times, which is necessary for them to work effectively.

Even though this early flu season is rare, try not to be overwhelmed by the hysterics surrounding H1N1. Worrying about such things will lower your immune system, which ironically could make you sick.

Photo courtesy of CDC

Matt Griesmyer

The Signal Staff

H1N1 influenza, commonly known as swine flu, is quickly becoming a very prevalent issue of conversation.

As of press time for the publication of this article, there were 109 laboratory confirmed cases of the flu infection in the United States, with the only confirmed death from the virus happening in Texas; so far none have been reported on or near the University Houston-Clear Lake campus.  The number of reported cases, however, are growing quickly.

Susan Leitner Prihoda RN, family nurse practitioner and director of health and disability services at UHCL, explained what would happen if even one person became infected on campus.

“If there is a confirmed case of swine flu, the Texas Department of Health will close the campus down,” Prihoda said.

The World Health Organization has an alertness classification system in place for similar situations.  Arranged from phase one through six involving the development and spread of a virus, and two phases following those involving the post-peak and post-pandemic alertness levels. The WHO, the directing authority for health within the United Nations, has raised the alertness level of the swine flu outbreak from phase four to phase five, meaning the pandemic is imminent.

Deb Blakely, assistant professor of communication at UHCL as well as a published author of “Mass Mediated Disease,” a book analyzing three major pandemics and how the media covered them, explains what would classify the current situation as a pandemic, and consequently a WHO phase six alert.

“Rates of infection and the spread of infection,” Blakely said.  “With a pandemic, it typically means that many countries are involved.  You have to have epidemics within several countries to be classified as a pandemic.”

Students are being advised to maintain preventative measures to ensure the health of the area.

Prihoda said that the methods people need to use to prevent getting sick are all about prevention of infection.

“We already know the virus is here,” Prihoda said.  “Start with essential handwashing technique, use antibacterial hand gel if you cannot wash your hands often, and stay away from sick people.”

Should a student feel ill and have flu-like symptoms, students are advised to stay away from campus and visit a doctor.  The office of campus health and disability services at UHCL is prepared to test, in certain situations, for swine flu.

The symptoms of swine flu are no different than any other influenza strain.  Running a fever, body aches, sore throat, congestion and runny nose are common symptoms, with the key characteristic being the fever.  The incubation period for swine flu is 24 to 48 hours, with the illness lasting an average of five days.

UHCL is taking measures to prepare the university in case of confirmed infection. The university has put into place a risk management team to analyze all potential problems and situations involving swine flu, arranging university-level responses for each.  Anthony Jenkins, dean of students at UHCL is on the risk management team.

“We are looking at contingency plans,”  Jenkins said.  “We are trying to think through every scenario possible and put in place something that will help us be proactive and reactive to that situation.”

Situations that are still under analysis include finals, summer classes and commencement.  If there is any update in the information regarding classes being held, students will be notified by email.

Also, students can check the UHCL home Web page for updates.

A common idea shared by Jenkins, Prihoda and Blakely is to stay calm, but stay informed and aware.

Throughout these times it can be easy to become too inundated with hype produced by other sources that the facts can become muddled.

The most reliable sources for information involving the swine flu are the Web sites of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the World Health Organization at www.cdc.gov and www.who.int, respectively.

Preparations for the potential swine flu pandemic are similar to hurricane procedures.  Collect enough water and food for two weeks and keep vehicles topped off with gasoline.  Also, keep cash money on hand in preparation of bank closures.  Should the situation occur in which certain city facilities become shut down, it is important to be prepared.