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2005-2006 Influenza (Flu) Season
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Influenza (Flu) Season
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What is the influenza activity in the community?
Weekly reports on the influenza activity in the U.S. and Ohio can be found at
the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention website.
The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza for Lucas County for the
previous years and for this current influenza season can be viewed by clicking
on the below button. This chart will be updated weekly during the influenza
season.
Click here to view the number of
confirmed cases in Lucas County
Note: Although all positive laboratory tests for influenza are required to be
reported to the state or local health departments, this information does not
provide the full picture of influenza in a community. The majority of ill
persons either does not seek medical care or are not tested for influenza.
Comparing reported cases of influenza from year to year or week to week may not
be valid because many factors influence both testing and reporting. Therefore,
the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department neither recommends comparisons of the
number of reports with previous years nor using the actual number of reported
cases as a measure of the severity of influenza throughout Lucas County.
What is Influenza?
Influenza, also known as the flu, is a contagious disease that is caused by the
influenza virus. It attacks the respiratory tract in humans (nose, throat, and
lungs). The flu is different from a cold. Influenza usually comes on suddenly
and may include the following symptoms: fever, headache, tiredness, dry cough,
sore throat, nasal congestion, and body aches. These symptoms are usually
referred to as "flu-like symptoms." Most people who get influenza will recover
in one to two weeks, but some people will develop life-threatening
complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of the flu. Millions of people in
the United States — about 10% to 20% of U.S. residents — are estimated to get
influenza each year.
How is influenza (flu) spread?
Influenza is a contagious disease. It is spread, or transmitted, when a person
who has the flu coughs, sneezes, or speaks and sends influenza virus into the
air and other people inhale the virus. The virus enters the nose, throat, or
lungs of a person and begins to multiply, causing symptoms of influenza.
Influenza may, less often, be spread when a person touches a surface that has
flu viruses on it – a door handle, for instance – and then touches his or her
nose or mouth.
A person can spread the flu starting one day before he or she feels sick.
Adults can continue to pass the flu virus to others for another 3 to 7 days
after symptoms start. Children can pass the virus for longer than 7 days.
Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. Some persons can be
infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those
persons can still spread the virus to others. This is the reason frequent
and thorough hand-washing by everyone is so important during the flu season.
How can influenza be prevented?
Much of the illness and death caused by influenza can be prevented by a yearly
flu shot. Because influenza viruses are changing all the time, vaccine
effectiveness depends, in part, on the match between vaccine strains and
circulating viruses. Information about the influenza vaccination, including the
2005-06 vaccination recommendations, can be found on the CDC’s website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/.
In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, there are some easy measures we can
all do to prevent the spread of influenza at home, school, and work. These
measures include:
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Frequently washing hands with soap and water
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Wash your hands after returning home
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Clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if running water is not
available
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze
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Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible
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Avoid large crowds, if possible
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Stay at home, if possible, when you are sick
What types of vaccine are available?
There are two different types of flu vaccine: the "flu shot" (a vaccine
containing the killed virus that is given with a needle) and the nasal-spray
flu vaccine (or Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine [LAIV]), which contains
weakened live viruses and is given by nasal sprayer. Each vaccine has different
usage guidelines. Individuals who wish to get vaccinated should check with
their health care provider to see which vaccine is suitable for them.
Where can I find additional information?
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) Influenza Website
National
Weekly Influenza Updates by the CDC
Cover
Your Cough Campaign
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