Category Archives: swine flu

Flu is here!

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We had our first clearly positive flu patient, a 2 year old who had one dose of injectable vaccine, with a 102 degree fever and no other signs. The rapid flu test was clearly positive for Flu type B.

Take home message:

(1) CDC recommends 2 doses of flu vaccine, 1 month apart, for certain patients, such as those under 9 years of age receiving the vaccine for the first time;

(2) Injectable vaccine is less effective than the nasal vaccine in preventing flu, but it is highly effective at preventing complications and hospitalizations;

(3) We have both, and will be happy to help you to select the right one for your needs.

(4) Two resources to find out about flu activity in our area:

http://www.google.org/flutrends/

http://cdc.gov/flu/weekly/

Stay healthy!

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Bird Flu and the real thing

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Let’s get one thing straight:

All flu is bird flu.  Practically all new strains of influenza originate in China because that’s where the two species that get flu the most — pigs and ducks — live by the millions in close proximity.  Every time a duck gets the flu from a pig, or pig from a duck, the flu virus changes slightly; and when one of these infects a farm worker, the new strain crosses over into the human population.  It is by monitoring influenza emergence in China that each year’s flu vaccine is prepared.  So far, over the last 30 years or so, predictions have been very accurate, with only one recent strain mutating somewhat on the way to the US — with the vaccine retaining partial efficacy.  Still, of those not getting the vaccine, tens of thousands still die each year from complications of influenza.

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