What is Influenza A?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus.  It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death.  The virus is spread mainly by droplets made when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk.  These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby.  Less often, a person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.

Symptoms of Influenza?

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle or body aches
• Headaches
• Fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, more common in children

Period of contagiousness?

You may be able to pass the flu on to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.  Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick.  Some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season.  There are two types of flu vaccines:

• The “flu shot” – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle.   The seasonal flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.  The flu mist is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection.  The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common.  The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 and an influenza B virus).

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician.  They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
• People who have had Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously.
• Children younger than 6 months of age
• People who have moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.

Other ways to prevent the spread of influenza are by covering your cough, staying home if you are ill, and frequent handwashing.

 

Vaccination Information:

2011 FLU CLINICS
Fri. Oct. 7	10 - 11:30 am	Hinton Comm. Center
Wed. Oct. 12	2 - 6:30 pm	Health Fair @ Le Mars Convention Ctr
Tues. Oct. 18	1:30 - 3 pm	Remsen Senior Center (Beck Park)
Fri. Oct. 21	1 - 3 pm	Le Mars Senior Center
Tues. Oct. 25	4 - 7 pm	FVH Conference Center
Wed. Oct. 26	10 - 11 am	Merrill - Kissinger Center
Fri. Oct. 28	10 - 11:30 am	Kingsley Comm. Center
Fri. Nov. 4	10 - 11:30 am	Akron Senior Center
Fri. Nov. 11	2 - 4 pm	FVH Conference Center
Cost is $25, or bring your Medicare card (Part B).

Please contact the Community Health Department directly at (712) 546-3335 for information about getting vaccinated.

For more information on influenza, please go to the CDC website at:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.

 

Helpful Information:

Influenza Inactive Vaccine Fact Sheet 2011 - 2012 (Shot)     Spanish Version

Influenza Live Vaccine Fact Sheet 2011 - 2021 (Mist)     Spanish Version

Hand Washing Poster

3 Cs of the Flu Poster

CDC Fraud Alert

 

Other websites that may be helpful for you:

Vaccine Information Statement - Seasonal Shot

Vaccination Information Statement - Seasonal Nasal Spray

Iowa Department of Public Health - seasonal Influenza Information

CDC - Seasonal Influenza Information

 

IDPH Influenza Hotline:  1-800-447-1985

 

Contact:
Floyd Valley Community Health
home.health@floydvalleyhospital.org
712-546-3335
1-800-642-6074 x335
Floyd Valley Community Health Influenza Information Line (712) 546-3716
Family Medicine Clinic-Le Mars Influenza Information Line (712) 546-3695