Guard Against Influenza During the Winter Season

With the flu season getting underway, many health care providers and clinics are making the influenza and pneumonia vaccine more accessible throughout northern Nevada.

Influenza, often called the flu, is not a common cold. It is a serious infectious disease caused by influenza virus. Each year, approximately 226,000 Americans are hospitalized with complications from influenza. An average of 36,000 people die from the virus and its complications.

Dr. Donald Farrimond, M.D., Medical Director, St. Mary's Primary Care Plus, says last year 172 died from the flu in the community and urges everyone over 6 months to be vaccinated. The 2007 vaccine helped only the influenza A (H1N1) strain, and was ineffective in the Influenza A (H3N2) and inFluenza B.

Dr. Farrimond says as a result there was a 50 percent increase in hospitalizations and deaths. This year, the CDC still has not identified what strain will present this season.

“There are two spikes, one in December and mid February,” explains Dr. Farrimond, adding now is the time for people to get vaccinated especially high risk populations.

Elders over 85 are especially at risk and urged to get vaccinated. Pneumonia vaccines are also accessible to people over 65. Dr. Farrimond recommends elders receive a pneumonia shot once every five years.

Every year, 5-20 percent of Americans get the flu. Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the nation's 8th leading cause of death. In 1918 over a half a million died worldwide.

Symptoms Common respiratory and stomach infections are often mistakenly referred to as “the flu.” However, symptoms of influenza include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults.