The cycle of the Influenza virus has made researchers dig hard to find out the reason for the strain of the virus which affects human population widely. With four types of strains affecting a large number of people, vaccination is being strongly recommended and that too immediately.
With influenza viruses like Swine Flu and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome affecting a large number of people, enough awareness is created about the disease, but little about the vaccination. Recent studies published in the Medical News India show that temperatures are going to be low in July and waiting till September-October for the vaccination may not be a good idea. Those who are immunologically compromised must opt for vaccines in the warmer months.
Viruses have same Symptoms (Dr S.A. Rafi)
The most common strains first develop in migratory waterfowl populations. While most Avian Influenza (bird flu) virus strains are relatively harmless, a few develop into “highly pathogenic Avian Influenza”, which can be deadly for domesticated poultry and livestock. As recent events have shown, these strains can also be fatal for humans. People can become infected by the bird flu strains through contact with contaminated chickens and pigs. Dr S.A. Rafi, consultant pulmonologist at Care Hospitals, explained, “The symptoms of all influenza viruses are the same. The person feels sick for four days and then there are symptoms like headache, muscle ache, fatigue and high fever up to 104°F. There is also nasal discharge for the first three days and it then thickens to yellowish or greenish discharge. If proper medical assistance is not sought, it can develop into pneumonia and also cause complications and result in multi-organ failure and death.” Seeking help early is the key to controlling the disease.
Droplets spread the virus (Dr Anand Joshi)
Transmission of the virus is primarily when a person with flu coughs or sneezes near someone else. Adults with flu spread it to someone else from Day One before symptoms start to show, to about Day Five after symptoms develop. Children can spread the infection for more than 10 days after symptoms show, and young children can transmit the virus within six days. Dr Anand Joshi, consultant internal medicine, Global Hospitals, explains, “If the virus has affected a family member, it is very important that other members take precautionary measures. This is very important as otherwise it is found that all family members are down with influenza and those with weak immune systems develop severe complications.”
Need for a new vaccine (Dr Subhakar Kandi)
A new vaccine is required every year for influenza because there is an antigenic drift where there is a slight variation in the virus. Every year the World Health Organisation, in collaboration with the Centre for Disease Control and other health organisations, has to make an educated guess which strains of influenza will be circulating in winter. Dr Subhakar Kandi, professor of pulmonary medicine at Government General and Chest Hospital explained, “Every year surveillance is done of all respiratory viruses to understand the change in antigenic shift in the virus. This is important because if there is a major shift, then it can result in a pandemic. Like it was seen in 2009 in the swine flu case, in 1918 Spanish flu and in 1957 Asian flu where millions of lives were lost. These studies from past have shown that if there is an annual programme of vaccination carried out then many complications can be avoided and also lives saved. But before going for vaccination it is very important to get screened by a doctor to check on allergies and also on neurological diseases as in these cases it is not advisable.”
- Medical fraternity recommended annual vaccination as the effective solution for combating influenza.
- Vaccine is recommended for children above 6 months of age and elderly above 60.
High risk groups
- Healthcare workers
- Pregnant mothers in second and third trimester and Postnatal mother
- Diabetic patients
- Obese Individuals
- People suffering from Chronic lung diseases like Asthma and Chronic Obstructive lung disease
- People suffering from Chronic kidney diseases
- Cancer patients on immunosuppressive drugs
- Patients on long-term steroids
- HIV patients
- Chronic heart diseases
- Post-transplant patients
- Immunosuppressed individuals
Prevention is better than cure
- Wash your hands frequently and properly
- Cover your face when coughing or sneezing
- Ideal masks to be used are N95 mask that can filter the viruses. They should be disposed off every day
- Those who have Flu must refrain from being at public places
