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FLU WELL
The weather has turned and the leaves are starting to, certainly around here. As aviation thoughts switch from summer convection to cooler, denser skies make sure you schedule a trip to the doctor’s office or local market to have your flu shot. Every year somewhere between 5 – 20% of Americans get this disease and the more of us who are vaccinated the lower the likelihood of an epidemic. The word “influenza” derives from the Italian meaning “influence” as it was thought that the stars affected our health. Later reports drew the correlation to winter and the name was changed to “Influenza del freddo” suggesting that your mother was right – protect yourself from the cold!
Influenza viruses are transmitted from the afflicted to others as an aerosol when coughing and sneezing, so encourage all you see to cover their nose and mouth, then wash their hands with hot soapy water. After a liberated sneeze, absent a handwash, an affected person shakes hands with someone else who then scratches their nose and viola, another victim.
If flu does strike, the first symptoms are often chills and a fever in excess of 100° Fahrenheit followed by muscle aches, sore throat, headache, general malaise and cough. Do not try to be a hero and go to work; in your weakened state you will likely worsen the illness and in the process will infect your co-workers. Although a typical bout with the flu usually lasts a few days, it can have even more unpleasant sequelae especially for the very young and old, pregnant women, those living with cancer or AIDS or with underlying heart or lung problems.
Each year an analysis of the three viral strains likeliest to cause an outbreak leads to a new formulation of viruses which are grown in eggs, killed and injected into the muscle of the upper arm. If one has had a bad reaction to a prior vaccination, is allergic to eggs or is unwell then vaccination is best deferred. Otherwise, everyone aged 18-64 should consider getting the jab. There is a nasal mist form of delivery, a high dose version of the vaccine which is considered for older people and for the first time this year, an intradermal jab – the needle just penetrates the skin. Ask your doctor about these options.
The most common side effect of the vaccine is a sore arm although some people claim that they develop a mild form of the flu after the shot which is not feasible as the viruses are dead. Certainly some fever can occur as a result of the injection but life-threatening complications are extremely uncommon – allergic reactions for instance can usually be treated. Some of you may have heard of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare reaction that is said to occur less than one in a million vaccinations.
A couple of questions that pop up every year relate to nomenclature of influenza viruses, the first relating to origin and terms like “swine flu” or “bird flu” are bandied about. These viruses often arise in a bird or mammal and in parts of the world where people live in close proximity to domestic creatures the virus can mutate and jump to another species and then the act of sharing begins. Scientists use a system to describe viruses based on the first two proteins to be identified on the viral surface that enable the bug to enter host cells. These compounds are Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase, the “H” and “N” we see in the news. There are 16 different versions of “H” and 9 of “N” but there are also six other markers that the media conveniently leaves out. An H1N1 virus therefore, contains the first hemaglutinin and neuraminidase to be discovered but there are many different H1N1 viruses.
Regardless of subtypes, talk to your healthcare professional to ascertain if there is any reason why you, and your family members should not be vaccinated this year – fly well for sure, but also, flu well!
September 13, 2011
