FLU

Background Information on the Flu

• Influenza, as people call it flu is a very high contagious infection of the respiratory system. It affects throat, the nose and large airways of the lungs. Sometimes it is described by severe fever, sore throat and muscle aches. • The flu usually occurs from the

months October to May and majority of young kids receive the flu.

• The flu is caused by influenza viruses which are divided into three types.• Influenza types A and B are

responsible for respiratory illnesses which occur every winter and are often associated with higher hospitalization and death rates.

Background Information on the Flu (continued)

• Influenza and the common cold are both very contagious viral infections of the respiratory system. The symptoms could be similar between them but the flu is much worse. A cold may down your mood a bit, but the flu can make you very ill at the very thought process of if I should get out of bed or not.• The flu causes much more hospitalization and deaths than the

common cold as it is a more severe infection.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Flu Vaccination 

Advantages of Vaccination• To prevent spreading of illness• To prevent missing any days of

school, work etc.• To avoid discomfort of illness• The immune system is aware of

the virus and produces antibodies to help protect

Disadvantages of Vaccination

• Flu vaccination can not be received by everyone• Sometimes vaccination leads to side

effects such as low fever and soreness.• Some mercury, a neurotoxin is

contained in the vaccination, thought to cause autism in children• Vaccination can also possible cause

short term flu, more common in nasal spray

The science behind the Flu• The flu develops through high

fever reaching up to 40 degrees, sore throat, chills and headaches.• Influenza viruses are found in the

throat and nose that can spread fast.• It comes from viral infections

which are infections that cause pain your throat and head, there are several symptoms to the flu.

• Flu outbreaks are classified as epidemics, which means they occur

in a set geographical area, or pandemics, which means a

worldwide occurrence.• According to the CDC, winter flu

epidemics can cause illness 10 to 20% of the population in the Unites

States.• They are associated with 200,000 hospitalizations and 39,000 + deaths

every year in US.

Flu Vaccination • The flu shot is a vaccination

given with a needle, usually in the arm. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the flu viruses which research indicates will be most common during the winter seasons.• The flu vaccination is the

best medication to prevent severe flu symptoms. 

• Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get a flu vaccine this season. • Flu vaccines cause

antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine

Social, Economic, Political Issues about The Flu

• When an influenza pandemic emerges, all countries worldwide will inevitably be affected. However, the impact may vary both between and within countries. 

• A recent study that estimated the global impact of the Spanish flu pandemic indicated that a considerable difference in mortality rates was observed between high- and low-income countries.

• During the flu seasons excess deaths are attributed to pneumonia or influenza are much immensely higher in HIV-positive persons.• HIV co-infection with a much

severe virus called the pandemic virus could lead to more drastic and painful infections which supposedly may cause death rates to grow higher.

Social, Economic, Political Issues about The Flu (continued)

• Deaths are more associated in countries that are newly industrializing and developing rather than developed countries as the technology is built well and they have vaccination to prevent the flu.• One study concluded that 96% of

the estimated 62 million deaths in a future pandemic would occur in developing countries

• The impact of such high mortality rates obviously needs to be taken into account when creating pandemic preparedness plans for developing countries. 

Canadian Data on the Flu• This is the national flu

vaccination report card in 2011 it shows the provinces of Canada and the grades they received in the years.

Canadian Data on the Flu (continued)

• This is another picture that shows a graph providing the weeks of the year and the number of confirmed cases of Influenza A types, it also shows the years ranging from 2004 to 2010 with different lines for each of the years.