Flu Basics 2018

Influenza "Flu" season ranges from October to May and typically peaks in February and according to the media its deadlier than ever this year.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone gets vaccinated. 

CONTAGIOUSNESS/ SYMPTOM ONSET

According to the CDC: the flu virus can be passed from person to person 1 day before a person even realizes they are sick and up to 5-7 days after.. Most people do not know this.   To make matters worse, most cannot afford to take 7 days off to recover past the point of contagion. The incubation period for the flu is 1-4 days with a 2-day average until symptom onset.  Just because a person feels better does not mean they are no longer contagious. No wonder the flu is so widespread. 

SYMPTOMS

Fever/ chills (not everyone with flu will have fever)

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue (tiredness)

Vomiting

Diahrrea

FLU VACCINES

The Flu Mist or live attenuated Intracranial vaccine (LAIV) is not recommended this year due to concerns over the vaccine's effectiveness.  The injectable flu vaccine is the only approved flu vaccine for the year. Flu vaccines are most effective 2 weeks after injections as it takes 2 weeks to build immunity.  I stopped taking the flu shot a couple of years ago because I often took sick right after which I justified by telling myself it would have been worse. I understood that my body had to build antibodies in response to the injection so I rationalized developing natural immunity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As I understood my natural immunity would also protect me from other strains of the flu. 

I learned that there are thousands of different flu strains and I figured vaccines were a gamble.  I was however pleased to learn that flu shots protect against 3-4 strains of flu virus according to the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO). There is extensive data and research to determine which strains to include. 

2017-2018 Flu Vaccine Components:

• an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus (updated)

• an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2)-like virus

• a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like (B/Victoria lineage) virus

Antivirals are recommended to shorten the duration of the flu if caught early. 

TYPES OF FLU

There are 4 basic types of influenza. 

Type A & B are typical seasonal viruses for humans, they are also bird and equine viruses.

Type C is a mild version of flu manifested by mild respiratory illness. 

Type D cattle

The viruses are further categorized by subtitle and subtype then by lineage and or strain. 

The H3N2 strain is said to be responsible for as much as 85% of US related influenza as reported by public health laboratories. H3N2 is being referred to as the Aussie Flu and 2017 proved to be one of the worse flu seasons experienced by Australia in recent years.  It has remained dominant over the last few years and it has traveled a long way. Flu viruses are continuously drifting and shifting to mutate and gain potency no wonder they are responsible for more deaths every year..

STATISTICS

According to the CDC Flu Outbreak Update widespread flu activity has been reported in 48 US states and Puerto Rico. It is further reported that the 2018 flu season is on task to be the worst flu season since the 2014-2015 season.  The CDC estimates that anywhere from 140,000 and 710,000 people are hospitalized annually.  It is further estimated that more than 50,000 could die nationwide this year. It is difficult to determine the amount of adult related influenza deaths since they are not always tested. Child flu-related deaths are mandated by the CDC. These numbers are broad but probable which makes it scary. 

HIGH RISK POPULATIONS

Our high-risk populations most definitely benefit from vaccines since they are more vulnerable. Children under age 5 are considered high risk while children younger than 2 years and adults 65 and older are at an even greater risk. Additional high-risk populations pregnant women, immune-compromised  pre-existing medical conditions and long-term care facility residents/staff. Additionally, locations with high occupancy create opportunity for 1 person to infect many.

COMPLICATIONS

Pneumonia, infections, worsened chronic conditions and death. 

WHERE TO GET FLU SHOTS

Contact your provider or see the link below:

Free resource finder, enter your zipcode

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/flu-finder-widget.html

The first week of February I suffered from classic flu symptoms like no other. The symptoms came on sudden and they were fierce. Within an hour I went from feeling fine to fatigued and achy to full blown illness. It was like being punched and held down, I instantly declared myself TKO.  My head, joints and stomached ached simultaneously and relentlessly. Thoughts of flu related deaths from the media plagued my mind on multiple occasions. The symptoms seemed to worsen every hour and I found it difficult to breath. My head, chest, joints and stomach hurt non-stop.  I sat bedridden and thought to myself I'm healthy, I have a good diet, exercise and lowered risk factors, how could this flu affect me this way.

I had gained exposure at work, several co-workers were sick. Despite my daily work station sanitation routine, vitamins and good hygiene. The airborne virus and possible poor air quality compromised my well-being. The condition lasted a week with residual phlegm to serve as a reminder. I won the fight with rest, over the counter aids and by staying positive and hydrated. I am back on my feet and I cannot help but wonder if my symptoms would have been less severe if I had taken a flu shot. I did not take a shot last year and I did not get sick. The year before no shot and mild symptoms. My recent symptoms made me a believer that flu viruses are more virulent this year.

I can say that after experiencing this rapid onset flu while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and habits, I am halfway convinced that I need to take a flu shot.  After all there are other strains lingering. This is background information on influenza and vaccines, please consult your physician for medical advice.