| |
Seasonal Influenza
General Facts
- Influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory infection caused by the influenza viruses. The nose, throat and lungs are primarily affected.
- Usually, influenza viruses are spread through the air by virus containing droplets produced during coughing and sneezing.
- Shaking hands or drinking from shared drink containers spreads influenza.
- Minimise the spread of influenza by covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. Additionally, wash hands prior to eating.
- The time between becoming infected by the virus and developing symptoms is normally 1 - 3 days.
- People who have become infected by the virus may spread the illness from 1 day before and up to 3 - 8 days after the symptoms appear.
- The severe symptoms of influenza will normally last 1 - 3 days; however it may take up to 3 weeks to fully recover from the illness.
Common symptoms of influenza are; |
Complications of influenza may include; |
- high fever
- dry cough
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness / extreme exhaustion
- headache
- sore throat
- stuffy nose
|
- acute bronchitis
- croup
- acute otitis media (ear infection)
- viral pneumonia
- bacterial pneumonia
- myocarditis
- pericarditis
- post infectious encephalitis
|
- The influenza vaccine is safe and effective in preventing both mild and severe outcomes of influenza.
- Amongst healthy adults the vaccine is 70 - 80 % effective in reducing influenza illness when the match between the vaccine and circulating virus is close.
- The vaccine should be administered prior to the onset of winter, which is the most common period for influenza outbreaks to occur in temperate regions.
- The influenza vaccine may provide some limited protection against a pandemic influenza strain.
24 November, 2009
|
