Not ‘if’ but ‘when’
Fighting pandemic and seasonal flu may come down to key, common steps
By Brielle Kennington
Argus Observer
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 10:25 AM PST
| |
| The Malheur County Health Department has administered 1,600 influenza vaccinations this season. Health officials in Idaho and Oregon are expecting a flu pandemic to occur in the future and urge residents to find out how to be prepared. |
ONTARIO — According to health officials in Idaho and Oregon, a flu pandemic is not a question of “if” but rather “when.”
To ensure residents are prepared for just such a scenario, the Southwest District Health Department and Malheur County Health Department offer up some simple tips to decrease the spread, and impact, of influenza.
Pandemic flu is not the same as seasonal flu. Seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a strain of the influenza virus that spreads from person to person. Typically, seasonal flu infects 5 to 25 percent of the population every year. Symptoms include fever, headache and fatigue. Symptoms can be mild or severe, and at times can lead to death. In a normal flu year, 36,000 deaths are recorded in the U.S. because of the illness and 500,000 deaths worldwide.
Pandemic flu is a different story. Pandemic flu is a rare, but not uncommon, malady.
“We’ve had three pandemics in the last century. We should be prepared for it,” Southwest District Health Public Information Officer Laurie Boston said.
Boston said historical records show that about 30 influenza pandemics and numerous “pandemic threats” have occurred throughout history.
The last major influenza pandemic occurred in 1968 and although health care technology has advanced since then, experts agree that the level of preparedness will greatly influence the economic and medical impact of the illness, as well as the final death rate.
A worst-case pandemic scenario is not out of the question, either. A severe pandemic struck the U.S. in 1918 and killed 500,000 people in America and 50 million worldwide.
Seasonal flu deaths are usually restricted to typical “at-risk” groups, such as the elderly, the very young and those with existing, serious medical conditions. During a pandemic flu, all age groups could be at risk for infection and, based on historical patterns, fit adults could be at a relatively greater risk according to information from the Trust For America’s Health Foundation.
An influenza pandemic occurs when a new strain of influenza virus emerges and starts spreading easily from person-to-person. Because the virus is new, people will have little or no natural immunity. It is also likely that no vaccine will be available, at least in the early stages of a pandemic. As a result, this new strain of virus can spread quickly, causing serious illness, high death rates and great social disruption across the world. In terms of preparing for a pandemic, health officials suggest now be the time employees spark a conversation with employers about what to do if the worst-case scenario occurs. During a pandemic, schools may not be able to stay open, and other organizations and services could be impacted. In Idaho, for example, each school district is responsible for planning for a pandemic event, so health officials urge residents to be familiar with a particular school’s plan and speak with school nurses, teachers, administrators and parent teacher organizations. Parents may have to plan some home learning activities and exercises during a pandemic.
The health departments in the area are doing their best to educate and make people aware of the dangers of a pandemic. It comes down to the efforts of individuals, if their resources are utilized. For more information about influenza and how to stay healthy, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.
Preparation is key
In terms of seasonal flu, the best way to fight the virus remains an old remedy: Vaccination.
A flu vaccination can cost a mere $15 to $30 per individual. Some people do not get the flu vaccination, because they believe the shot may cause them to catch the flu.
The virus in the vaccine, however, is not active and cannot cause a person to get the flu. It can cause mild soreness and a headache which can be taken care of with a pain reliever. Getting vaccinated is very important, particularly for people at high-risk for serious flu complications. High-risk individuals include infants, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease, and people 65 and older.
“The best time to receive a flu shot is in the end of October and early November, because the peak of the flu season is in February,” Malheur County Health Department Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Lori Heiple said.
The vaccine does not ensure a person will not get sick. The flu shot covers several strains of the flu, but it is impossible to immunize against all of them since they can, and often do, mutate. There is, for example, some indication the strain of flu this year may not be covered in the existing flu vaccine.
“If the vaccine matches the flu virus, it prevents disease,” Malheur County Health Department Immunization Coordinator Kelly Jensen said.
There remain several other ways to help prevent catching the flu that may take a little more preparation and effort. Adopting a program to quit smoking, improving diet, exercising regularly and getting a medical check-up can help.
Area public health agencies, such as the Southwest District Health Department and the Malheur County Health Department offer pamphlets and other resources to help educate residents on avoiding seasonal and pandemic flu.
