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Featured Health Topics Beryllium Cancer Health Resources Pandemic Influenza Seasonal Influenza Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel	Seasonal Influenza General Facts Frequently Asked Questions Protecting Yourself 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; high fever dry cough muscle and joint pain tiredness / extreme exhaustion headache sore throat stuffy nose Complications of influenza may include; acute bronchitis croup acute otitis media (ear infection) viral pneumonia bacterial pneumonia myocarditis pericarditis post infectious encephalitis Vaccine 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. Frequently Asked Questions What is seasonal influenza? How are Seasonal, Avian and Pandemic influenzas different? How serious is influenza infection? What are the symptoms of influenza? What are the symptoms of the common cold? When does influenza occur? How is influenza spread? Who is most at risk from the complications of influenza? What precautions should people take? Why do we get flu every year and why won't the vaccine provide long term protection? How effective is the vaccine? Does the vaccine have any side effects? Is there anyone who should not be vaccinated? Can the vaccine cause flu? Will the vaccine protect me from Avian Influenza? When is the best time to be vaccinated? Is the vaccine effective immediately? How do I go about getting vaccinated? 1. What is seasonal influenza? A respiratory illness associated with infection by the influenza virus. Influenza is different from a cold, mainly because the symptoms and complications are more severe. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. The elderly and infirm often die from seasonal influenza, while in young adults it is rarely fatal. 2. How are Seasonal, Avian and Pandemic influenzas different? Seasonal influenza is a contagious respiratory illness caused by common influenza viruses. Most people have some immunity, and a vaccine is available. Avian influenza (or Bird flu) is caused by avian influenza viruses, which occur naturally among birds. There is no human immunity and no vaccine is available. If human to human transmission occurs, Avian influenza may become a pandemic influenza. Pandemic influenza is a global outbreak that occurs when a new influenza virus causes serious human illness and spreads easily from person to person world-wide. Currently there is no pandemic influenza. 3. How serious is influenza infection? Influenza makes people feel worse than an ordinary cold. For most people influenza infection is just a nasty experience, but for some it can lead to illnesses that are more serious. These illnesses may require treatment in hospital and can be life threatening especially in the elderly, asthmatics and those in poor health. 4. What are the symptoms of influenza? The most common symptoms of influenza are an abrupt onset of fever, shivering, headache, cough, sore throat and aching muscles & joints. Most people confuse influenza with a heavy cold, however influenza is usually a more severe illness than the common cold, which is caused by other respiratory viruses. 5. What are the symptoms of the common cold? Cold symptoms are limited to the upper respiratory tract with runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. The symptoms usually occur gradually and do not cause a fever or body aches. 6. When does influenza occur? Influenza occurs most often in the winter months and usually peaks between June and August in the southern hemisphere. Illnesses resembling influenza may occur in the summer months but they are usually due to other viruses. 7. How is influenza spread? The flu virus is highly contagious and is easily passed on by breathing in the tiny droplets from the breath of infected people. The incubation period - delay between infection and the appearance of symptoms - is about 1-2 days. The infectious period varies but an infected person can probably pass on the disease the day before their symptoms appear and remain potentially infectious for 3-8 days. 8. Who is most at risk from the complications of influenza? Children have a greater risk of being infected because they have not developed immunity to the virus. The elderly have a greater risk of the severe complications of infection such as pneumonia, because they often have underlying diseases, which reduce their resistance to infection. It is strongly recommended that immunisation be offered to all health care workers and those living & working in close proximity to each other (i.e., the military). 9. What precautions should people take? Routine vaccination offers the best protection and people who are at high risk of infection should be vaccinated. It is difficult to avoid infection if there is an epidemic. Keeping away from crowded places can reduce the risk of becoming infected and spreading it to others. A previous flu infection or vaccination will not necessarily provide protection against further infections because the virus is continually changing genetically and different subtypes circulate each winter. 10. Why do we get flu every year and why won't the vaccine provide long term protection? The virus is constantly changing with new strains and variants constantly emerging. People develop immunity either as a result of becoming infected, or through vaccination. As immunity is specific to individual strains of the virus, the emergence of a new strain will mean that people will contract the disease and a new vaccine will need to be developed. Each year one or two subtypes of influenza A may be in circulation and one type of influenza B. 11. How effective is the vaccine? Flu vaccinations are 70-80% effective in healthy adults, in years when there is a good match between the vaccine and the strains of flu in circulation. In recent years we have been getting better at predicting the strains which are likely to circulate, and in most years there is now a good match between the vaccine and the circulating strains. Most people who have been vaccinated don't get the kinds of flu from which the vaccine was made. If you do catch flu it is likely to be milder than if you had not been vaccinated. 12. Does the vaccine have any side effects? Flu vaccines are very safe. They may cause some soreness where you were injected and, less often, a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days. Common side effects of influenza vaccine include soreness & redness at the injection site and mild fever, fatigue & muscle soreness. Rarely, a person may develop an allergic reaction such as an itch or red rash, experience difficulty in breathing and have general swelling. 13. Is there anyone who should not be vaccinated? You should not be vaccinated if you have a serious allergy to chicken eggs; have had a previous severe reaction to the influenza vaccine or have previously had Guillain - Barré Syndrome. 14. Can the vaccine cause flu? Whilst it is impossible to predict, there is the possibility that being vaccinated with the seasonal vaccine may provide some limited protection against pandemic influenza strains. 15. Will the vaccine protect me from Avian Influenza? No. The vaccine will not protect against pandemic influenzas such as Avian influenza 16. When is the best time to be vaccinated? The best time to be vaccinated is between late March and early April (but useful any time during the influenza season) ready for the winter. You shouldn't wait until there is a flu epidemic. 17. Is the vaccine effective immediately? No. The vaccine requires 2 weeks for protection to develop. 18. How do I go about getting vaccinated? If you feel you need a flu vaccination, check with your Medical Officer. Protecting Yourself and Others from Respiratory Infections HANDWASHING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF. Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Use tissues once and dispose of immediately. Wash hands after coughing and sneezing or disposing of tissues. Keep your hands away from your mouth, nose and eyes. Maintain personal space or avoid contact with individuals at risk such as small children or those with underlying or chronic illnesses such as immune suppression or lung disease. Avoid contact with people who have influenza-like symptoms. Ask people to use a tissue and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and to wash their hands afterwards. Communicate hand and personal hygiene information to staff and visitors. Hygiene notices should be posted in all workplace entrances, washrooms, hand washing stations, and public areas. Wipe frequently used items such as telephones, photocopiers, fax machines, and commonly shared items. 5 December, 2011


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