What to expect from this year's flu season

What can we expect from the 2010-11 seasonal flu? This may be a question that has popped into your mind recently.

The July 30 news release by the Food and Drug Administration regarding its approval of the vaccines for this upcoming influenza season might have caught your attention. The Aug. 10 announcement by the World Health Organization that declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic may have made you wonder, too. In this “post-pandemic” phase, what has changed?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, annual epidemics of influenza in the United States occur typically during the late fall through early spring. We’re not sure yet if the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic made a lasting change in this.

Per the CDC: “Influenza viruses can cause disease among persons in any age group, but rates of infection are highest among children. During these annual epidemics, rates of serious illness and death are highest among persons aged (at least) 65 years, children aged (less than) 2 years, and persons of any age who have medical conditions that place them at increased risk for complications from influenza.”

We know that each year the seasonal flu is reported to be responsible for almost 36,000 deaths in the U.S., but it took the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic to catch the attention of many. Even though the 2009 pandemic has ended, we need to hang on to the lessons learned and apply them to the flu every year. This is especially true regarding the importance of annual flu vaccinations and other prevention measures, plus early detection and treatment of the flu.

The vaccine

You probably recall that two separate vaccines were needed last year because the 2009 H1N1 virus emerged after the seasonal flu vaccine was being produced. Good news: This year, one seasonal flu vaccine will protect against three flu strains, and the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (the “swine flu”) is one of the three.

Children being vaccinated for the first time, however, usually need two shots, at least one month apart.

The CDC recommendations on who should receive annual influenza vaccinations have changed for this year. The CDC recommends that annual vaccination be administered to all persons aged 6 months or older. Its recommendations also include information about a newly approved vaccine called Fluzone High-Dose, for persons aged 65 years and older. The CDC has made other specific recommendations for your health-care provider’s information and knowledge.

Even if you have never gotten the flu and never taken the flu vaccine in the past, many local health-care providers urge you to be vaccinated.

“The flu vaccine is effective most years, but remember that it will only work if you take it,” said Dr. David Moon of Pee Dee Family Practice in Lake City. “If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones.”

When seasonal flu activity begins

The websites of the CDC and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control are excellent sources of information regarding seasonal flu. The timing can be unpredictable and vary from season to season; in the U.S., it commonly peaks in January or February, but can occur as late as May. The CDC’s 2010-11 flu season frequently asked questions pages are especially helpful, and they can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/1011season.htm

To track the activity of seasonal flu and flu-like illness in South Carolina, the DHEC website’s “Flu Watch” pages are good places to visit. “Flu Watch” will be published in a shorter form until Oct. 2, and for purposes of tracking and reporting, the state is divided into three geographic regions. The CDC tracks flu activity on the national level on its sites at www.cdc.gov/flu and www.flu.gov.

Local hospitals participate with other hospitals in South Carolina by reporting surveillance data to DHEC; some of the reports are mandatory, and some voluntary. Reports include positive flu test numbers, patients who are hospitalized for the flu, and any flu-related deaths.

On a voluntary, weekly basis, Lake City Community Hospital reports the numbers and age categories of patients seen through its Emergency Department with influenza-like illnesses to the CDC.

Hospitals in South Carolina also participate with DHEC and the South Carolina Hospital Association in conference calls regarding influenza. During the height of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the conference calls took place every week. The participants decided that it would be good to continue the calls for other important communicable diseases like pertussis, or whooping cough, which is on the increase in South Carolina.

Other preventive measures and treatment

Although vaccination is the best protection against getting the flu, you should take other important prevention measures. General good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu.

The CDC recommend that you:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
• If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Wash your hands often to help protect you from germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other good health habits. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

If you or a loved one gets the flu, talk to your doctor or other health-care provider about medications to reduce the length and severity of your illness. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that can be used for prevention or treatment of flu viruses.

— Moon is a registered nurse in infection control and prevention at Lake City Community Hospital.