Flu season is approaching

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Jessica Hill
  • 49th Medical Group
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Flu season is quickly approaching. We in the community must be vigilant regarding prevention.

Influenza virus causes a respiratory illness characterized by high fever, severe cough, headache, tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and body aches. Having these symptoms does not always mean that you have the flu. Many illnesses can have similar symptoms, including the common cold.

Like most viruses, the flu can be easily transmitted through airborne droplets when people cough or sneeze. These droplets then contaminate the air and objects such as door knobs. People breathe in these droplets or pick up the virus from touching contaminated objects, then transfer them into their body primarily by putting their hands in their mouth when they smoke, bite their fingernails and eat.

The foremost means of preventing most viral illnesses is hand washing. Brisk hand washing with warm water and soap for 15-30 seconds is the best prevention of viral illness. Make sure to wash both sides of your hands and get in between your fingers; when soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer following the manufacturer's directions. Other ways to reduce your risk of contracting the flu, as well as other illnesses, includes good hygiene such as not sharing utensils and drinks at home, and increasing your immunity by eating a healthy, well balanced diet and exercising.

The single best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get vaccinated. The flu vaccination is mandatory for all active-duty personnel. Two types of flu vaccination are available: a nasal spray called FluMist and injectable vaccine marketed under several names. FluMist contains live, weakened flu viruses and is approved for healthy, non-pregnant individuals 5 to 49 years of age. People who have medical problems preventing them from taking FluMist may receive the injectable flu shot, which is made with killed virus.

Some people are more susceptible to complications from the flu and should receive the vaccination as early as possible. These people include: children 6 to 59 months of age, pregnant women, people over 50 years of age, people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or heart disease, and children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on chronic aspirin therapy. Care-givers of children under 5 years of age and healthcare workers should receive vaccination to prevent infecting those individuals who are more susceptible to complications from the flu.

Should you become ill, you can decrease the likelihood of passing the virus on to others by covering your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trash immediately. Don't leave it lying on the coffee table! If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or pull the neck of your shirt over your mouth. Also, if you have symptoms of the flu, limit spreading the illness by minimizing visits to crowded public places, such as Walmart, church and restaurants.

Because there is no "magic pill" to cure influenza, the treatment of choice is simply supportive care, consisting of rest, increasing fluids, and taking aspirin, ibuprofen such as Motrin, or acetaminophen such as Tylenol, for body aches and fever. Supervisors have the authority to send their troops home for 24 to 48 hours for an uncomplicated course vs. keeping their troops at work to infect others or sending every troop to the medical clinic, overwhelming the healthcare system and increasing the likelihood of infecting other patients and staff within the clinic. While rest and treating the symptoms of the flu is normally all that is needed, you should seek medical attention if you develop difficulty breathing, chest pain, or a high fever that does not come down with aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Through using these measures and working together to help prevent cases of influenza in our community we can hopefully prevent an epidemic.

The 49th Medical Group has ordered enough vaccine to cover the HAFB population. More information will be provided when the flu vaccine shipment arrives. For information on the status of flu vaccine, please call the immunization clinic at 572-7188.