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A seasonal vaccine is
distributed routinely every year. While
there are many different flu viruses,
the flu vaccine protects against the
three viruses that research suggests
will be most common.
The 2011-2012
vaccine will protect against an
influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B
virus and the H1N1 virus that emerged in
2009 to cause a pandemic.
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| What is Influenza
(Also called flu)? |
| The flu is a contagious respiratory
illness caused by influenza viruses. It
can cause mild to severe illness, and at
times can lead to death. The best way to
prevent the flu is by getting a flu
vaccine each year. |
| Symptoms of the
Flu |
People who have the flu often feel
some or all of these symptoms:
● fever* or feeling feverish/chills
● cough
● sore throat
● runny or stuffy nose
● muscle or body aches
● headaches
● fatigue (very tired)
● Some people may have vomiting and
diarrhea, though this is more common in
children than adults.
*It’s important to note that not
everyone with flu will have a fever. |
| How Flu Spreads |
| Most experts believe that flu
viruses spread mainly by droplets made
when people with 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 flu by touching a surface or object
that has flu virus on it and then
touching their own mouth, eyes or nose. |
| Period of
Contagiousness |
| You may be able to pass on the flu
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 1 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. |
| How serious is
the flu? |
Flu is unpredictable and how severe
it is can vary widely from one season to
the next depending on many things,
including:
● what flu viruses are spreading
● how much flu vaccine is available
● when vaccine is available
● how many people get vaccinated
● how well the flu vaccine is matched to
flu viruses
that are causing illness
Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be
severe. In the United States, thousands
of healthy adults and children have to
visit the doctor or are hospitalized
from flu complications each year and
some die. Studies going back 30 years to
1976 show that seasonal flu-related
deaths have ranged from about 3,000
people to 49,000 people. Studies going
back to 1976 have found that flu-related
deaths ranged from a low of 4,700 to a
high of 56,600 (average 25,500).
During a regular flu season, about 90
percent of deaths occur in people 65
years and older. During 2009-2010, a new
and very different flu virus (called
2009 H1N1) spread worldwide causing the
first flu pandemic in more than 40
years. It is estimated that the 2009
H1N1 pandemic resulted in more than
12,000 flu-related deaths in the U.S. In
contrast to seasonal flu, nearly 90
percent of the deaths occurred among
people younger than 65 years of age. |
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| Check back often for updates |
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