Flu season descends on Sisters

Although Sisters is not yet in the full grip of the flu season, the dreaded bug is beginning to make its annual appearance in our midst.

All three Sisters schools are reporting about average numbers of students out with the flu for this time of the year. So far this year's flu virus is being merciful to the community.

"Just in the past month there have been quite a few cases in Bend," said Dr. May Fan of Bend Memorial Clinic. "Our urgent care clinic has seen dozens of cases in the last month. We have only had a handful here in Sisters.

"I think there maybe have been fewer cases this year," Dr. Fan said. "It is a later season for sure. Usually the flu will peak around December- January. For there to be high numbers in February is pretty unusual, but not unheard of."

Both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) based in Atlanta, Georgia and the World Health Organization (WHO) based in Geneva, Switzerland have been taking steps to insure that the effects of this flu season will be minimized.

Although both CDC and WHO monitor the spread of the disease, it is WHO's Global Influenza Surveillance Network that writes the annual vaccine recipe. The network, a partnership of 112 national influenza centers in 83 countries, is responsible for monitoring the influenza viruses circulating in humans and rapidly identifying new strains.

The risk from this year's virus strain is comparable to that of the last few years. According to the CDC, this year's strain is a contagious respiratory infection that can cause from mild to very severe illness.

The CDC expects that between five and 15 percent of the U.S. population will get the flu; about 200,000 people will be hospitalized from flu complications and approximately 36,000 people are expected to die from the illness and its complications.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year. Currently, there are two types of vaccines. Most common is the "flu shot" - an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given by injection either pneumatically or by needle.

Although October through December is the best time to be vaccinated, getting vaccinated even now in February can still be beneficial.

"We are near the end of the season, but high risk individuals that haven't yet received a vaccination should still consider it," Dr. Fan said.

Antiviral drugs are an important adjunct to influenza vaccine for the treatment and prevention of the flu. However, they are not a substitute for vaccination. When taken before infection or during early stages of the disease (within two days of the onset of illness), antivirals may help prevent infection. If infection has already taken hold, their early administration may reduce the duration of symptoms by one to two days.

Some people, including the elderly, very young children and people with certain health conditions, are at much higher risk for serious flu complications. It is important to be aware of the symptoms so that if the flu is contracted, medical intervention can quickly be obtained.

The normal symptoms for the flu are: 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 much more common in children than adults.

Flu viruses generally spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing by people who have influenza. Often people become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and, in turn, touching their mouth or nose. Frequent washing of hands and staying away from anyone who is infected are ways to avoid infection.