Drake stresses importance of flu vaccine
When someone gets the flu, it does not just affect their health. Having the flu may expose family, friends and co-workers to an infection that kills an average of 36,000 people annually in the United States.
“It is very important to be vaccinated each year to prevent this disease,” said Montgomery County Public Health Director Sue Drake. “Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect yourself and your family.”
Drake said the flu is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It comes on suddenly, and symptoms may include fever, headache, tiredness, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches. The illness typically lasts two to seven days, and can cause a healthy person to be bed-ridden for days.
She said getting an annual flu shot is the best way to avoid the flu, as well as frequent hand washing.
“What is surprising to me is the number of people who do not get a flu shot. They either say they don’t have the time or believe the myths that it doesn’t work or that it causes the flu. I have been telling people for 33 years you can’t get the flu from the flu shot,” Drake said. “This vaccine is a killed virus, it cannot make you sick.”
For those who haven’t gotten a flu shot yet this year, Drake said it is still not too late. It takes up to two weeks after vaccination for a person to achieve full benefits against the virus. The flu shot is recommended by the CDC for everyone over the age of 6 months. The vaccine is paid for through most insurance companies as well as Medicare/Medicaid.
Drake said a person may pass the flu to someone else before they know they are sick or while they are sick.
“Most healthy adults are able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick,” said Drake. “Young children, older people and people with weakened immune systems are most susceptible.”
Flu season can begin as early as October and generally peaks in January, February or later. Drake said Iowa is in the minimal range right now for numbers of diagnosed flu.
Symptoms are sneezing, mild fever, headaches, cough, muscle aches and a decrease in appetite. It is easily passed from one person to another with no symptoms for the first two to three days. Once the symptoms start, they usually last for 10 to 14 days.
Other viruses circulating over the colder months are the rhinovirus/enterovirus, which are infections that cause the common cold. It may also cause ear infections, sore throats and sinus infections and even lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Another virus, which makes the rounds annually, is the “stomach bug” that causes diarrhea and vomiting. Drake said contrary to popular belief, this illness is not caused by the influenza virus, but rather the norovirus.
According to the CDC, the noroviruses causes 19 million to 21 million cases of acute gastroenteritis in the U.S. per year. The illness lasts from one to three days, comes on abruptly and has a quick recovery time.
Lastly, Drake said respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, a common respiratory virus in the winter, that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
While most people will recover within a week or two, RSV can be serious for the elderly and infants.