81st AMDS shares flu facts Published Jan. 28, 2013 By 81st Aerospace Medicine Squadron Public Health Flight KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Although the current spike of reported influenza-like illnesses has begun to decline, a few more months remain in the 2012-2013 flu season. Below is a collection of quick facts to help protect people from the flu. Top 10 reasons Defense Department beneficiaries should get an influenza vaccination: 1. Influenza can kill. 2. The young and elderly are typically more susceptible to severe illness from influenza. 3. Being sick can result in lost work time and lost pay. 4. One third of civilian employers do not provide paid sick days. 5. It's free. 6. Germs are easily spread at schools and daycare facilities. 7. It will reduce the chances of fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, aches, chills, nausea, diarrhea and other flu symptoms. 8. Even if the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, it is still better than zero protection. 9. When you are sick, you put everyone around you at risk of getting sick. 10. Even if the vaccination doesn't prevent you from getting the flu, it can reduce the amount of time you are sick. When should you seek medical care? When you experience a fever of 100 degrees or greater along with cough, sore throat, headaches, body aches, chills, fatigue, a runny or stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Is it the flu or a common cold? The flu and the common cold have similar symptoms. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them. Your health care provider can give you a test within the first few days of your illness to determine whether or not you have the flu. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, fatigue and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Top five ways to prevent Influenza: 1. Get vaccinated. 2. Practice proper hand hygiene by washing with soap and water. 3. Practice good cough and sneeze etiquette and use a mask if you have influenza-like symptoms. 4. Maintain a 3-6 foot personal space with those who could potentially, or are confirmed, to have the flu. 5. If sick, do not report to work -- contact your work supervisor and medical provider. Why do people who get a seasonal flu vaccine still get sick? * The vaccine takes one to two weeks to build good immune protection from the flu virus. Exposure to an influenza virus just prior to or after vaccination may result in the person getting the flu. Getting vaccinated annually in October helps build a person's immune protection for the duration of the flu season. The flu season begins just prior to the holiday season when many individuals start shopping, traveling and spending added time with family and friends. This increased interaction with other people increases the potential for a person to be exposed to the flu or other communicable virus. * Similar viruses such as rhinovirus and adenovirus also circulate during flu season and may be mistaken for the flu. * Health officials base the next annual flu vaccine on three flu virus strains suggested to be the most prevalent from extensive epidemiological research. Therefore, individuals can always be exposed to other strains of the flu virus not covered in the current vaccination. * The vaccine is not 100 percent effective for all people; some individuals will still get the flu virus even after being vaccinated. * Some people can experience minor cold symptoms such as low-grade fever, aches or runny nose which are commonly mistaken as flu symptoms in reaction to the vaccine. These minor cold symptoms should resolve within 24-48 hours, and are far less serious than getting the flu, when many people are very sick. For more information go to www.cdc.gov/FLU/about/qa/flushot.htm.