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By Neal Rolfe Chamberlain The influenza virus causes the flu and it infects 10-20 percent of Americans yearly. Its symptoms are often confused with the common cold, but influenza is far more dangerous, infecting at least 120 million people worldwide and killing some 20,000 Americans every year. People most likely to be very ill from the flu include the elderly, young children, and adults who have immune systems that do not work very well. The flu is worse than the common cold because the viruses (influenza viruses) that cause the flu are able to get down into a person's lungs and cause pneumonia. The common cold viruses (rhinoviruses and coronaviruses) do not go down in the lungs but rather stay up in our nasal passages and throats. Many of us will not be vaccinated against the flu because the vaccine has run out or because we are less likely to develop pneumonia from an influenza virus infection. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) have developed some great information on how to avoid being infected by the influenza virus. This brochure is a pdf file titled Protecting Your Family From Influenza. It contains practical steps you can take to avoid that nasty virus. Doing the following will reduce your chances of getting the Flu if you can't get the vaccine. Wash your hands frequently. In business, deals may be done with a handshake, but that simple action could cause the flu, since hand contact is one of the principal ways the flu virus finds its way into your system. Wash your hands vigorously for about 15 seconds, paying attention to the areas between the fingers and on the back of the hands. Use hot water, and rinse in a steady stream. At your lavatory at work, dry your hands before you shut the water off, using the towel to turn the tap. If there's a blow dryer, activate it with your elbow. An anti-viral drug is an option for those who should not get an influenza vaccine. Both amantadine and rimantadine have been shown to be safe and effective - about 70 to 80 percent - in reducing both the severity as well as length of influenza A, one of the three flu viruses. These prescription drugs can be taken as a preventive measure. They also can be taken as a remedy should flu symptoms appear; treatment must start within 48 hours of the first signs, however. Consult with your personal or company physician before obtaining or taking any medication. Eat a balanced diet, get proper amounts of sleep, and exercise regularly. As much as you can, minimize the stress that comes with work. As Frances Slater, President of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) says, "the first line of defense against the flu is a healthy body and a rested mind." Educate your co-workers about the flu and its effects. There's safety in numbers. Make sure those who work with you understand the flu and its potential effects. Start by acquiring APIC's free brochure on the flu by downloading the brochure free from the association's web site (Protecting Your Family From Influenza). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for information; the CDC publishes material on all aspects of influenza (800/232-7468). Ensure that at-risk co-workers are vaccinated first. If the vaccine should become available in limited supplies, first vaccinate workers who may have chronic lung or liver disease; diabetes; heart or kidney ailments; or chronic anemia. Include also those undergoing treatment for cancer and those who have compromised immune systems. At home, vaccinate the elderly, those confined to nursing homes, and children with asthma. Keep your distance. If you must be in the same room with co-workers infected with the flu, try to limit your time there to a one-hour maximum, and keep your distance - six feet minimum. If you need to get closer than that, be careful not to stand in the path of coughs and sneezes. Limit such close contacts to just a few minutes. Know your options about vaccine availability - and line them up. Stay in touch with your family or company physician, your local hospital and clinics regarding the delivery of the vaccine. Let your fellow workers and family members know when and where supplies will be available. And remember: flu shots are offered in a variety of convenient places such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and shopping malls. Well, I hope this list keeps you from getting the flu this year. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. For more power go to: The New York Health Department's Fact Sheet on Influenza. Take Care and Think Microbiologically! __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org Saligaonet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
