The Centers for Disease Control considers the annual flu a “serious and contagious disease,” and has issued precautions to avoid the contagion, which includes vaccination.
Vaccination remains the cornerstone of influenza prevention, thwarting the contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza virus strains. According to the FDA, between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population develops influenza each year, leading to more than 200,000 hospitalizations from related complications. Influenza-related deaths vary yearly, ranging from a low of about 3,000 to a high of 49,000 people.
In July, the FDA announced approval of the 2011-12 influenza vaccine, which protects against the three virus strains that surveillance indicates will be most common during the upcoming season (influenza A H3N2 virus, influenza B virus, and the H1N1 virus).
While there is no expectation that there will be a repeat of the virulent outbreak of H1N1 that we saw in 2009, the CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza:
Vaccination: Even if you were vaccinated during the previous flu season, the effectiveness of the vaccine declines over time and can leave you unprotected. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu. Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.
Prevention: Wash your hands often and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the crook of your elbow when you cough or sneeze. Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.
Follow-Through: Get a prescription for and take the whole dosage of antiviral medication. Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and prevent serious flu complications.
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