"GET THE FLU SHOT NOT THE FLU"
Flu Information (current) from the Centers for Disease Control
Complications of the flu can include dehydration, ear or sinus infections and pneumonia. The flu is spread, either directly by coughing or sneezing into someone’s face, or less often, by touching a contaminated object (such as a doorknob, elevator button, money etc.) and then touching one’s own nose or mouth. People are contagious 1 day before they develop symptoms and for 5-7 days after becoming sick. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
PREVENTION TIPS
Call Student Health Services x4991 for medical help. The flu is a disease of the breathing passages caused by the influenza virus. It affects people of all ages as it spreads through the air from person to person. The virus can be as contagious as the common cold and is easily transmitted from people who are already infected. You can also get the flu from those who have been exposed, but have not yet developed symptoms. This means that you can be contagious and not even know it. The flu is more serious than a cold, often causing severe symptoms such as body aches, exhaustion, high fever, respiratory inflammation, congestion, cough and more. You could be ill for a week with some symptoms lingering for up to a month. For people that are classified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as high-risk, it is especially important to get vaccinated. This group includes people over 65; a household contact of persons at increased risk of flu-related complications, anyone with heart disease, diabetes, kidney disorder, blood disorder or an impaired immune system. In addition it is recommended that college students living in crowded situations such as dorms consider receiving the vaccine. Influenza (flu) is a serious disease that is
caused by a virus that spreads from one infected person to another by
droplets from coughing or sneezing. The flu causes fever (100
-104 degrees F), chills, cough, muscle aches, sore throat and
headaches. Symptoms last from 7 - 10 days and are incapacitating.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are not the "flu". The
season in the U.S. runs from November to March or April every year.
The influenza vaccine (shot) can prevent influenza. Protection
develops about 2 weeks after the shot is given and lasts for about a
year. The flu causes thousands of deaths each year mostly among
the elderly, but people of any age can get the flu. Who should get the flu vaccine?
A flu shot is your best shot at
protection Flu vaccine is 75 to 90 percent
effective in preventing infection. Contrary to a popular myth, you
cannot get the flu from the vaccine since it is made from highly
purified, egg‑grown viruses that have been rendered noninfectious.
The vaccine causes your body to
produce antibodies that protect it against the virus. Even if you
received a flu shot last year, you still need to receive another one
this year to remain protected. The reason being, each year the flu
strain changes and your body slowly loses its immunity to the flu. Anyone would benefit from getting the flu vaccine, but it is especially important for those in a High Risk Category.
Who should NOT get the flu shot? * Anyone who is
allergic to eggs or who has had a previous allergic reaction to a flu
vaccine or people with a history of Guillain Barre'.
Last Updated Nov. 15, 2005 by Noel Cartwright |
