Influenza (commonly called the flu): It is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses , the flu can cause severe illness and life threatening complications in many people ,so the best way  to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination (flu Shot) yearly as recommendation from Centers of Disease Control and Prevention CDC.

How flu viruses spread from one person to others?

1. Flu viruses spread from one person to another in respiratory droplets from a cough and sneezes.
2. It can spread when a person touches droplets on another person or an object and touches their own mouth or nose.
3. Most healthy adults may infect others 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after being sick.

How do you know you are sick?

If you have the following symptoms:

1. Fever or feeling feverish / chills.
2. Cough.                   
3. Sore throat.  
4. Runny or stuffy nose.
5. Muscle or body ache.
6. Headache.
7. Fatigue.
8. Diarrhea & vomiting (more common among children than adults).
   

Does the flu cause complications?

Yes, like the following:

1. Bacterial pneumonia.
2. Dehydration.
3. Worsening of chronic medical conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.
4. Children and adults may develop serious problems and ear infection.
5. People may have different reactions to the flu. The flu can cause mild to severe illness, at times it can lead to death , some people such as older people , young children and people with certain health conditions ( such as asthma , diabetes, or heart disease ) are at high risk for serious complication from the flu. Healthy people recover from the flu with out complications.    

How can you protect yourself & others against the flu?

The best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get the Flu vaccine (Flu Shot):    

1. Inactivated influenza vaccine (Killed) vaccine, or” Flu shot “is given by injection into the muscle.
2. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine; this is the most important step in protecting against flu viruses while there are different flu viruses.
3. The new Flu shot 2011/2012 provides protection against A/H1N1 (pandemic) influenza and two other influenza viruses – influenza A/ H3N2 and influenza B.
4. Once you get vaccinated your body makes protective antibodies in about 2 weeks. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions plus pregnant women.

When to get vaccinated?

1. Getting the vaccine as soon as it is available will provide protection if the flu season comes early, recommended that you can get the vaccine as long as illness is occurring in your community.
2. Influenza can occur at any time, but most influenza occurs from November through May. In recent seasons, most infections have occurred in January & February. Getting vaccinated in December, or even later, will still be beneficial in most years.
   

Who should be vaccinated?

1. All people: 6 months of age and older should get flu vaccine.
2. People at high risk of serious flu complications including( young children , pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma,diabetes or heart and lung disease and people in their 60s and older).
3. Adults and children 6 months and older who need regular medical care or were hospitalized the previous year because of a metabolic disease like (diabetes), chronic kidney disease , or weakened immune system (including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus [H.I.V / AIDS]).
4. People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or handling of respiratory secretions. A  condition that makes it hard to breath or swallow , such as brain    injuries or disease ,spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve muscle disorders.
5. Any person in close contact with someone in a high-risk group should get vaccinated .This includes all health care workers, household contacts and out-of-home care givers of children from newborns to 23 months age , and close contacts of people in their 60s.
6. Pregnant women and breast feeding women.

Who should not be vaccinated?

1. People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
2. People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
3. People who developed Guillain-Barre syndrom (GBS) with in 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
4. Children less than 6 month.
5. People who have an illness with fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms resolve.

Can a flu shot give you the flu?
NO, the influenza vaccine can not cause flu illness, the influenza viruses contained with the vaccine are inactivated, which means they can not cause infection. People who get a seasonal influenza vaccine and still gets sick with flu-like symptoms have usually:

1. Been exposed to an influenza virus shortly before or shortly after getting vaccinated (the vaccine takes two weeks to provide protection.
2. Become ill from non-flu viruses that can also cause flu-like symptoms.

Vaccine Effectiveness

The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "matching" between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation.

Testing has shown that both flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at preventing the flu.  
Vaccine Side Effects:  The viruses in the Flu-Shot are killed (inactivated), so you can not get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur like:

1. Soreness, Redness, or Swelling where the shot is given
2. Fever(low grade fever), ache and fatigue  
3. Headache
4. Gastrointestinal symptom (vomiting, diarrhea, nausea)

All of these symptoms generally disappear with out treatment within 1-2 days.

What are other every day preventive actions to stop the spread of germs?

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
2. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, if you do not have tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve not in hands.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.   
4. Avoid close contact with people who are sick, when you are sick keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too
5. If you are sick with flu- like illness, C.D.C recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care.
6. Practice other good habits, Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, Manage your stress, Drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.                                                                                    
7. Stop smoking, some research studies show an increase in influenza infections among smoker compared to non-smokers. In addition, there is higher mortality rate for smoker than non-smoker from influenza.
   

When can we take flu antiviral drugs?

1. Flu antiviral drugs can be taken if your doctor recommends them.
2. It can be used early ( within 2 days of symptoms ) to treat people who are very sick (such as those who are hospitalized ) or people who are sick with flu symptoms and who are at increase risk of severe  flu illness , such as pregnant women, young children, People in their 60s and people with certain chronic health conditions.
3. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and shorten the time you are sick. They may prevent serious flu complications.