Elevated flu activity this season

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ryan Gray, Capt. Heidi Hernandez and Tech. Sgt. Nicole Hurst
  • 66th Medical Squadron Public Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most effective strategy to prevent influenza is the annual flu vaccination. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, influenza activity peaks in January or later. 

Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before it begins spreading. 

The 66th Medical Squadron can help prevent contracting and spreading the flu by offering flu vaccines to Tricare eligible members, staff members from the Child Development Center, School Age Program, Youth Program, as well as emergency personnel on base.

What are the symptoms of flu?
The flu starts suddenly and may include some of the following symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, may be found in children. 

People infected with flu shed virus and may be able to infect others from one day before getting sick to about five to seven days after getting sick. This can be longer in some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems. This means that people may be able to pass on the flu to someone before realizing they are sick, or while sick themselves.

I heard that this season's flu shot isn't effective.
Flu viruses are constantly changing, this is known as "antigenic drift," they can change from one season to the next or they can even change within the course of one flu season.

Experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine many months in advance in order for the vaccine to be produced and delivered on time. Because of this, there is always the possibility of a less than optimal match between circulating viruses and the viruses in the vaccine.

However, even if there isn't a perfect match, the current influenza vaccine will still provide some protection against influenza and related symptoms.

Who is at higher risk for flu?
Certain people are at greater risk of serious flu-related complications, including young children, elderly persons, pregnant women and people with certain long-term medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease.

What can you do?
The best method of prevention is to wash your hands often to keep from spreading flu to others. In addition, public health officials recommend receiving the flu vaccination, practice social distancing, limit hand shaking and cough and sneeze into a tissue or sleeve, not your hands..

Supervisors may allow active duty members 24 hours of sick time if they are exhibiting significant cold symptoms.

For more information on the flu go to www.cdc.gov/flu, www.mass.gov/flu or contact the Public Health office at 781-225-6235 or 781-225-6257.