How is Influenza Transmitted? And Other Frequently Asked Questions About the Flu

By Patsy Hamilton

As the cold and flu season approaches in the northern hemisphere, people have many questions about the bugs, including “how is influenza transmitted” and questions about how influenza vaccine works to help prevent outbreaks of the flu. The peak of the flu season in the United States is from December to March. Vaccinations for seasonal flu usually begin in the fall. Here we provide the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the flu and the flu shot.

How is influenza transmitted?

It is believed that the common strains of influenza are transmitted from one person to another by coughing and sneezing. When an infected person coughs or sneezes (and does not cover his/her mouth) the viruses fly into the air along with mucus, saliva and other secretions. It takes a while for these microscopic particles to settle, so for several minutes, they are airborne. Another person can become infected by inhaling the airborne particles or touching a surface that has been contaminated with them. When the particles are airborne, it is difficult to avoid them without wearing a surgical mask or other device that filters out the viruses. Avoiding becoming infected by touching contaminated surfaces is easily avoidable by washing the hands before touching the face, mouth, nose or eyes. The virus must enter the respiratory system, before an infection can occur. Influenza viruses cannot enter the body through the skin.

Do animals get the flu?

Yes, but the influenza viruses that affect birds and other animals are different from those that infect humans.

How is influenza transmitted from animals to humans?

Usually, the viruses that infect animals and birds do not infect humans, but in some cases, as with the strain that is currently circulating in Asia and commonly referred to as “bird flu”, it does happen. The majority of the cases of human infection with bird flu have resulted from handling sick or dead birds or contact with feces and other excrements of sick birds. Rarely is the disease believed to have been transmitted by human to human contact and only among close family members, who lived in the same house with a sick person, who was originally infected by handling or caring for sick poultry.

How does the flu shot work?

Questions about how influenza vaccine works can only be adequately answered if you first understand a little bit about the function of the human immune system. The immune system is divided into functions that are considered to be innate and those that are considered to be acquired. You are born with innate immunities. Acquired immunities are those that, as the name implies, we acquire over time by being exposed to different viruses and other microbes that can cause infection. How influenza vaccine works is by allowing cells of the immune system to identify the virus, without actually becoming infected with the virus. This is a very simplified explanation, but we hope that it helps answer your questions.

For more information about how is influenza transmitted and how to boost your immune system strength, please visit our website at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experience in healthcare and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide.

Influenza- Symptoms and Treatment

By Nilutpal Gogoi

Influenza is a common contagious disease with flu-like symptoms. Influenza is caused by a sphere or filament-shaped virus. The most problematic part of these viruses is that they keep on changing. Such mutated virus strains can adversely affect a person even though that person had immunity to another strain of the influenza virus. And the situations worsens if separate strains combine. Such a combination can be really fatal as the newly emerged virus gains in its immunity against the extant vaccines.

A person becomes rather weak during the bouts of influenza. The patient’s immune system also fails to operate naturally. As a result, influenza can turn into another life threatening ailment known as pneumonia. In fact, annually approximately 25,000 American citizens die because of influenza or pneumonia. Medical reports have shown that people above the sexagenarian age group have been fatally affected by this twin disease. The virus responsible for causing influenza has been classified into three types, viz., A, B and C. While A affects mankind and animals, B and C targets only human beings. Mentionably, the third type of influenza leads to only to mild infection.

The latest panacea for influenza known as the 2004 Influenza Vaccine fights is composed of one strain of B and two strains of A. Influenza can attack anyone at anytime. However, people are particularly susceptible to influenza during the changes of seasons. During influenza, the main affected area is the respiratory channel. When the weather turns cold from hot or vice versa, many people irrespective of colds do fall prey to influenza. The disease can easily flow from one person to another. The primary routes for its transmission are sneezing and coughing. Influenza can also spread if one uses the clothes particularly the hanky or the towel used by an influenza affected person.

Influenza is accompanied by clogged nose, headache, or at times running nose, temporary pain of joints and running body temperature. Mentionably, influenza and its symptoms disappear within three to four days whether one takes medicines or not. However, influenza can also be a silent stalker. Under such circumstances, it is always advisable to try and cure influenza naturally. If the symptoms continue for a longer period and show little signs of disappearing, do consult a doctor.

The best way to cure influenza is to go for hot foot baths, and gargle if one suffers from sore throat. Many people take a tea spoonful of raw and unadulterated mustard oil to get back the normal voice. If one experiences mild fever, one can simply take the precaution of not bathing in cold water. Keep the body and the feet warm. Using cold ointments on the back side of the body, armpits, feet and on the chest besides around the nostrils also provide relief by means of the strong evaporation of those ointments.

It has also been found that homeopathic treatment is the most ideal strategy to cure influenza. This is especially true with children. Homoeopathic medicines can also be taken by the adults. The homoeopathic treatments give the best results in cases of adults who are teetotalers. Nonetheless, these medicines are cheaper than the allopathic ones. Besides, the homoeopathic medications do have any side effects although they take some time to deliver the goods.

Bird influenza: Nowadays, influenza has taken another deadly form. It is commonly known as the avian influenza as the virus gets transmitted to human beings from birds including poultry( hen, duck, turkey). The cause of this type of influenza has medically proved to be the H5N1 virus. Intensive researches are on to find a viable vaccine for avian influenza. The H5N1 virus has been found to be affecting people mainly in Europe and Asia.

In most of such cases, avian influenza spreads from the avian species to one person. To obviate any possibility of the H5N1 virus spreading to man, one must stay from making any contact with the birds during any avian influenza epidemic.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans can be similar to those resulting from typical flu-like symptoms, like fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches. Other severe symptoms are eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases, and other severe and life-threatening complications.

Nilutpal Gogoi is a writer and a freelance journalist having more than 18 years of service in several audio-visual and print media reputed organizations in North East India. He has published one popular adventure book for children and has published more than 1000 articles for various sites, as such http://www.publichealthclub.com/

A Word about the Influenza Virus: Symptoms, Complications and Prevention

By Patsy Hamilton

There is more than just one influenza virus. There are actually a number of different influenza viruses and they all have the ability to mutate or change. Sometimes they change slowly over time (this is referred to as drift), but sometimes they change suddenly (this is referred to as shift). The symptoms of influenza are usually more severe when a virus has made a sudden shift. Experts say that these shifts occur about every ten years and are the major causes of pandemics or world-wide epidemics.

When creating the annual flu shot vaccine, scientists evaluate the different viruses in circulation and select an influenza virus or two or three that are likely to cause people the most severe illnesses. An inactivated form of the selected viruses, or in the case of the nasal spray a weakened live virus, are used for that years vaccine. Because the viruses change slightly every year, in order to have full immunity from them, those who are at greatest risk of exposure or complications are advised to take the vaccine every year. Minor symptoms of influenza often follow a flu shot and taking the vaccine does not guarantee that a person will not become infected with an influenza virus different from the ones included in that years vaccine. Some controversy surrounds the idea that everyone should get a flu shot every year, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention still advises that it is the best known way to protect yourself from the flu.

The symptoms of influenza usually come on suddenly and begin with a fever that can reach 106 degrees farenheit. Headache, body aches, chills and pain when you move your eyes typically accompany the fever. Days later as these symptoms improve, you may have a cough, runny nose or sore throat. It is not uncommon for adults to have relatively high fevers for three or four days, but infants and children may need medical attention for any high fevers. When in doubt, call the doctor.

The influenza virus does not cause symptoms in all people and does not affect all people the same way. It is believed that those with a weaker immune system are likely to have more severe symptoms, than those who are in better health or have a stronger immune system. The biggest threat posed by the influenza virus is the risk of developing complications, particularly pneumonia. Pneumonia can be a real problem for the elderly, the very young and anyone who has chronic health problems.

It is important to remember that the symptoms of influenza are similar to other diseases, some minor, like the common cold and some more serious like mononucleosis and even meningitis. When an influenza virus leads to a bacterial infection, antibiotics are usually effective, but a common case of the flu will not respond to antibiotics. These drugs kill bacteria, but not viruses. If your symptoms seem to get better and then worse again, if you have a stiff neck or severe headache, you need to contact your doctor.

It is important to watch for symptoms of Reye's syndrome in children. This can be a life threatening condition. It is rare, but when it does occur it usually follows an infection with the influenza virus, chicken pox or another viral infection. If drowsiness and confusion develop three to seven days after the symptoms of influenza began, then medical attention is needed. Aspirin is believed to increase the risk of developing Reye's syndrome and should not be given to children with cold, symptoms of influenza or other viral infections.

To learn about a natural product that can be taken safely by adults and older children to reduce the duration of the symptoms of influenza and as a maintenance supplement to reduce the likelihood of becoming infected with an influenza virus, visit the Immune System Booster Guide.

Patsy Hamilton has more than twenty years experienc in healthcare and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Visit us at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

Britain plans flu shots for everyone

The British government unveiled plans Thursday to provide vaccinations for the entire population in the advent of a flu pandemic.

Health Secretary Alan Johnson said a flu pandemic was "one of the most severe risks" facing the country, telling lawmakers that he had signed an agreement to secure the delivery of enough pandemic flu vaccines to cover every citizen.

Experts will formulate the vaccination once the strain of the virus has been identified. Officials said it was impossible to predict when the next pandemic would strike and what form it would take.

The last global flu pandemic — Hong Kong flu — struck in 1968, leading to approximately 1 million deaths worldwide and 80,000 in Britain, said a Department of Health spokeswoman, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with department policy.

"We don't believe an influenza is imminent," the spokeswoman said.

The World Health Organization recently praised Britain for its preparedness to tackle a global flu outbreak.

National Influenza Vaccination Week

Florida Department of Health recognizes November 27 as Children's Flu Vaccination Day and reminds Floridians that the week after Thanksgiving, November 26 to December 2, is National Influenza Vaccination Week.

This year’s theme, “Protect Yourself and the Ones You Love Against the FLU. Get Vaccinated!”, highlights the importance of continuing influenza (flu) vaccination throughout the winter months and beyond. “Receiving influenza vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu,” Charles H. Alexander, Bureau Chief of Immunizations said. “Because children make up more than 25 percent of Florida’s population, we can protect our most precious resource by ensuring all eligible children receive flu vaccine.”

Parents and caregivers can contribute to the safety and well-being of children by vaccinating children, especially high-risk youth, and vaccinating the close contacts of children. Each year, over 20,000 children under age five are hospitalized from influenza. Children under age two are as likely to be hospitalized as adults who are 65 or older.

Top 3 reasons to get flu vaccine:

* Prevent influenza-related death

* Prevent severe illness

* Protect other people

In the U.S., influenza results in approximately 200,000 hospitalizations each year. Annually, over 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu, and most are age 65 or older. More people die from flu than from any other vaccine-preventable disease.

Flu (Influenza) Definition & Natural Remedies

By Peter Salazar

Definition and description of Flu: Flu is referred to as Influenza in medical terminology. Flu is a highly contagious and acute respiratory tract infection that normally occurs in winter season. Generally, flu appears in form of epidemic. Though flu can affect people of all ages, children are affected more. Immuno-suppressed people, young children and people with chronic diseases experience the high severity of flu. Pneumonia (viral pneumonia or bacterial infection) is most common complication produced by flu. Other complications include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myositis, myocarditis, Reye’s syndrome, encephalitis and pericarditis.

Causes of Flu: Flu is resulted from various strains of influenza virus. These viruses can mutate into various forms. You can get infected with flu by inhaling respiratory droplet from a person infected with flu or through indirect contact like using contaminated glass.

Signs and Symptoms of Flu: The main symptoms of flu include weakness, muscle aches, fatigue, fever, headaches and sneezing. Runny nose may be observed in some cases. Usually, symptoms of flu are mild in nature and do not lead to any serious health complications. However if you experience one of the following condition you must consult your health care provider.

If you have fever (above 102 F) for more than three days

If heavy mucus is released after coughing

If you face breathing difficulty

If you have flu like symptoms for considerably longer duration

Prevention of Flu: You may get protected from flu though immunization. There are certain vaccinations available for prevention of flu. There are certain side effects like appearance of mild flu like symptoms, inflammation at the injection site etc attached to the influenza vaccine. People with weak resistance must avoid crowded places like shopping centers, markets, theaters etc, especially during onset of flu epidemic.

Treatment of Flu: There are no specific treatments for flu. Generally medications known for their ‘anti-flu’ characteristic are prescribed. Bed rest and increase in fluid intake can help you in achieving relief from flu. Medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are used for relieving muscle pains and headaches. Apart from the medications certain alternate therapies like homeopathy and herbal medicines may provide significant results. Use of natural supplements like colloidal silver, colloidal gold etc may help in prevention of flu as these colloidal are known for their property of killing bacteria, viruses and other micro organisms responsible for infections.

Peter Salazar's source for quality supplements is http://www.utopiasilver.com

Influenza - Its Symptoms and Causes

By David Chandler

Influenza better known as the "flu" is an infection of the respiratory tract that can affect millions of people. The influenza virus can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing of an infected individual.

Statistics show about 20,000 Americans die from influenza or influenza related pneumonia each year. Pneumonia and influenza are the sixth common cause of death in the United States. Elderly (65+) make up more than 90% of the 20,000 Americans who die from this illness each year.

A person may contract the influenza virus and not experience any symptoms for a few days. The incubation period for the influenza virus ranges from 1-4 days.

Is there more than one type of Influenza virus?

What is influenza?

There are three different kinds of Influenza viruses: Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A can attack animals and humans, the remaining two (Influenza B and Influenza C) can only attack humans. Influenza C causes a very mild infection and does not provoke epidemics.

When observed through an electron microscope, influenza viruses are figured like filaments or spheres. Immunity to one strain of the influenza virus will not protect you against newly born strains of the virus, which has undergone minor changes or mutations.

The Influenza B and Influenza C virus may infect only human beings while Influenza A may infect several different types of animals. Influenza A virus can sicken many various types of animals, including humans, aquatic mammals, birds, horses, swine, and others.

At times when two different strains of viruses combine in humans or animals, they result in a new unique strain of virus with more immunity. The modern 2004 Influenza Vaccine is made of three strains, which include two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.

For more information, visit http://www.FluInfoCenter.com