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How is influenza spread?
Influenza is easily passed from person to person. The virus is primarily
spread by the coughing and sneezing of infected persons or, sometimes,
by direct contact, either with infected persons or contaminated surfaces.
When
and how can a person spread influenza?
People
develop symptoms 1-4 days after they are infected. Adults may be able
to spread influenza to others from the day before getting symptoms through
5-7 days after symptoms start. Children may be contagious for seven or
more days.
What
can I do to prevent myself and my patients from getting influenza?
Influenza
vaccination (the flu shot) is the best way to reduce your chances of getting
ill from influenza-infected persons and to keep you from passing influenza
to patients and other healthcare personnel. You should follow handwashing
and other infection control recommendations to prevent influenza transmission.
How
well does the flu shot work?
The vaccine is very effective (i.e., 70-90%) in preventing influenza among
healthy people younger than 65 years of age. Although the vaccine may
be less effective during years when the vaccine strains do not match the
strains causing illness, the vaccine and circulating influenza strains
are well matched in approximately 9 out of every 10 years.
Why
should health care workers (HCWs) get flu shots?
All healthcare personnel should get flu shots so they do not get influenza
and pass the virus to those at high risk for influenza-related complications,
such as persons >50 years of age and those of any age with chronic
medical conditions.
What
are the side effects of the flu shot?
Mild arm soreness and redness or swelling at the injection site are the
most common side effects and may last one to two days. Other potential
side effects, such as allergic reactions, are rare. There may be a one
in a million risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare paralytic illness.
Can
pregnant women or women that are breast-feeding take the flu shot?
Yes, women who will be in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy during
influenza season should take the shot. It is safe for both mother and
infant to take the flu shot if the mother is breast-feeding.
Who
should talk with their physician before getting a flu shot?
- persons
with allergies to eggs or thimerosal or a prior allergic reaction to
the flu shot
- persons
with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome
- persons
with a fever should wait until after the fever is gone to get a shot
- otherwise, persons with mild respiratory illness can get a flu shot
Can
the flu shot cause influenza?
No, the vaccine contains killed or inactivated influenza viruses and cannot
cause influenza.
How
can I tell if I or one of my patients has influenza?
Because influenza is not the only cause of respiratory symptoms and fever,
laboratory testing is helpful for confirming the diagnosis. Check with
your hospital's laboratory or infection control personnel to find out
what tests are available at your facility.
What
should I do if I suspect influenza in a patient?
First, notify the patient's physician and infection control. Infection
control can recommend steps to limit the spread of influenza to other
patients and staff and can look for additional cases of influenza. The
physician or infection control may test the patient for influenza.
What
should I do if I get influenza symptoms?
Report your illness to your supervisor and to the occupational health
clinic or infection control at your facility. Avoid spreading infection
to others by limiting contact with patients, washing your hands after
contact with your respiratory secretions, and covering your mouth when
coughing or sneezing.
Is
there a treatment for influenza?
Yes, the antivirals amantadine and rimantadine are effective against the
most common strain of flu, called influenza A; zanamivir and oseltamivir
are effective against influenza A and B. To reduce the number of days
of illness, these medications must be started within the first 2 days
after symptoms begin. Amantadine and rimantadine may also be used to prevent
influenza A and to help control outbreaks in health care institutions.
For more
information about influenza see the CDC
Influenza Home Page
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