Influenza

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A FLU VACCINATION THIS YEAR?

CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO BE PROTECTED?

£20

Influenza can cause havoc personally, and in businesses, with staff shortages, key positions not covered and expensive bank staff.

Epidemics of influenza typically occur during the winter months. Flu, is a viral infection caused by the influenza virus. It's passed on when people breathe in liquid droplets containing the virus that have been sneezed or coughed into the air, or when people touch objects contaminated with the virus. The symptoms, which include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches, appear quickly. It affects all ages

Possible complications include pneumonia, which often needs hospital treatment, and death. The virus can cause infections all year round, but it's most common in the winter. Anyone can get the flu and the more a person is in close contact with people who have the virus, the more likely they are to get it.

Influenza related illness accounts for the loss of more than 150 million working days per year. It can also be a killer!

Frequent development of antigenic variants through antigenic drift is the virological basis for seasonal epidemics and the reason for the usual incorporation of one or more new strains in each year’s Flu vaccine.

There are safe and effective vaccinations against the flu. Scientists work hard to predict which types will be around and develop the vaccines to fight them.

Last year The Health Station gave over 3000 flu vaccinations to individuals, local businesses and teachers.

 Experts are anticipating a flu epidemic this coming winter.

The Health Station will offer the Flu vaccinations. Supplies are expected by 01.10.07. The price is £20 each with discounts for numbers. Nurses can come out to your premises, if appropriate, and vaccinate groups.

Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) is used to treat influenza. It belongs to the group of medicines called neuraminidase-blockers. Neuraminidase is a protein of the virus, which is important for the reproduction of the virus. Tamiflu blocks this enzyme of the influenza type A and B and hence limits a further infection of the body. By doing so, it allows the immune system to effectively attack the virus. This results in a shorter period of illness and milder symptoms.

Influenza is highly contagious and can spread easily through a population. In the case of a mutated Avian Bird Flu virus, that can cross-contaminate humans, there is the risk of a pandemic outbreak of the illness. In this case the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the use of Tamiflu as an anti-viral medication which will help alleviate symptoms until an effective vaccine is found.