Inside this issue:

Flu is a common

respiratory illness

caused by the influ-

enza virus. Flu can

be highly contagious

and potentially fatal.

There are several

strands of influenza

virus. Seasonal flu is

standard influenza

that comes back

every year. Avian flu

is transmitted by

birds. It is highly

pathogenic but not

very communicable.

Pandemic flu (swine

flu/H1N1) is highly

contagious but not

very pathogenic.

Pandemic flu shares

characteristics of

both seasonal flu

and avian flu.

What is Flu?

Spreading Flu

Influenza virus is

usually spread

through a cough or a

sneeze. Flu can also

be spread if a

person touches an

object with the virus

on its surface. A

person is contagious

beginning one day

before showing

symptoms. Adults

can remain

contagious up to one

week after getting

sick and children

can remain conta-

gious for longer.

Basic Information on Staying Healthy During Flu Season

What is flu?

Flu symptoms

How to diagnose flu

Vaccination and Treatment

Statistics

Influenza Virus

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Flu Symptoms 2

Vaccines 2

Tamiflu 2

Statistics 3

For More Help 3

Flu can start suddenly with

symptoms of

Fever or feeling feverish/chills

Cough

Sore throat

Runny or stuffy nose

Muscle or body aches

Headaches

Fatigue (tiredness)

Vomiting and diarrhea

Swine flu and seasonal flu have

many similar symptoms, but

coughing was more prevalent

among people with H1N1 than

those with seasonal flu.

If a person is showing flu

symptoms, especially during flu

season, the should see a doctor.

Tamiflu treats flu

symptoms and limits the

ability of the virus to

spread to the rest of your

body and to other people.

Tamiflu has been clinically

proven to help people get

better 30% faster when

Tamiflu is a prescription

drug used to treat flu in

people 2 weeks or older,

who have had flu

symptoms for no more than

2 days. Tamiflu is FDA

approved and it helps fight

the flu virus at its source.

taken within 48 hours of

first symptoms. Before

taking Tamiflu, inform

your doctor about any

medications or health

conditions that may inter-

fere with Tamiflu.

Types of Vaccines

There are three dif-

ferent types of flu

shots.

Regular shot (for 6

months or older)

High dose shot (for

age 65+)

Intradermal shot

(ages 18-64)

Nasal vaccines are

also available.

Who should get

vaccinated?

Everyone! Especially

People who have cer-

tain medical condi-

tions including

asthma, diabetes, and

chronic lung disease.

Pregnant women

People age 65+

People who live or

care for others at risk

of catching the flu.

The single best way

to prevent flu is to

get vaccinated each

year. Flu vaccines

cause antibodies to

develop. A seasonal

flu vaccine treats cer-

tain strands of flu that

are expected to be

prevalent for the

coming flu season.

Vaccines

Flu Symptoms

Tamiflu

Page 2 In

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“There’s

no such

thing as

little flu”

Every year in the United States:

~ 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;

on average more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from

flu complications

over 23,600 people die from

flu; about 90% of such deaths

occur in persons aged 65 years

and older.

CDC

The Center for

Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) has

a web page with

important flu facts.

http://www.cdc.gov/

See a doctor

A doctor should be

able to answer any

questions you have

about the flu. If you

have questions about

medications, a doctor

or a pharmacist

should be able to

help.

WHO

The World Health

Organization (WHO)

also has a web page

to answer questions.

www.who.int/

Statistics

For More Help

Page 3

Flu Season Ahead

Remember