Flu Season Is Just A Sneeze Away

By Kaaren Valenta

The influenza season has officially begun in Connecticut, according to Newtown Health Director Mark Cooper.

“I have heard from the State Department of Public Health that there have been six confirmed cases of the flu in Connecticut,” Mr Cooper said Saturday at the free flu clinic held by the Visiting Nurse Association of Newtown at Edmond Town Hall.

Three registered nurses from the Danbury VNA administered 193 doses of the flu vaccine during the three-hour clinic. The vaccine, which begins to provide immunity within a week or two, is effective for the season but must be administered annually. Seven persons also received the pneumonia vaccine, which is good for eight to 10 years.

According to Dr Joxel Garcia, commissioner of the State Department of Public Health, Type B influenza was the cause of illness for two Connecticut residents, one from Hartford County and one from New London County. Type A influenza has been identified as the cause of illness for four other Connecticut residents, one from Hartford County, two from New London County, and one from Tolland County. All of these cases involved adults who became ill in mid- to late December, Dr Garcia said.

Persons with influenza usually experience a rapid onset of fever, chills, headache, and muscle ache followed by a runny nose, sore throat, and cough, which is often severe and lasts for many days. Most persons with influenza recover within two to five days.

“We have not yet received reports of widespread influenza activity in the state, but we do expect the number of cases to increase over the next several weeks, with some people developing more serious illnesses,” Dr Garcia said.

Last Saturday’s free flu shot clinic was the third in Newtown for this flu season. On November 11 at Nunnawauk Meadows, 51 persons received flu shots and 10 received the pneumonia vaccine. On October 18, the Health District held a townwide clinic at the Sandy Hook Fire House, administering 429 flu shots and 15 pneumonia shots.

“I think this is a wonderful service – everyone should donate to the VNA,” Tom Lyddy said as nurse Regina Morris gave him a flu shot at Saturday’s clinic.

Jane Sparacino brought her son Jack, 14, to the clinic after she had no luck at her doctor’s office.

“At first there was a shortage of the vaccine, so they were just giving it to elderly patients,” she explained. “Then when I called again last week, they said they were out of the vaccine for the season.”

“My husband had the flu last year and said it was just awful so we don’t want to take any chances,” she added.

Persons at high risk for serious illness from influenza include people aged 50 or older and people of any age with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, or kidneys, diabetes, immunosuppression, or severe forms of anemia. Other groups at risk include residents of nursing homes and other facilities housing patients of any age with chronic medical conditions; women who will be more than three months pregnant during the influenza season; and children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and who may therefore be at risk for developing Reye syndrome after an influenza virus infection. Complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus trouble, and ear infections can occur, especially in those unable to cope because of age or underlying health problems.

Dr Garcia emphasized that complications from the flu kill more than 20,000 Americans each year and cause more than 100,000 to be hospitalized. Flu shots still provide the best protection available, he said. This year’s flu shot will provide protection against this winter’s flu strains. It contains the A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N20-   like, A/New Caledonia/20/99 (HINI)-like, and B/Bejing/184/ 93-like strains of the virus. It takes about 10 days to 2 weeks after vaccination for antibodies against influenza to develop and provide protection.

For additional information about influenza and flu shots, persons should contact their physicians or the Newtown Health District. Information also can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control’s Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm.