Eulalee Thompson, Staff Reporter
ALTHOUGH MANY people, over the last few weeks, have been sick in bed with virulent flu-like symptoms, it was reported, last Thursday, that the Health Ministry advised that there was "no predominant virus circulating at this time in Jamaica". They say that further tests will be done.
However, the flu season normally runs through the cooler months, about October to April in the Northern Hemisphere and the U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC) is much more aggressive about flu virus monitoring and control. They report that in last week alone, it is believed that 11 children died in the US from complications of the flu and the CDC describes the start of the this flu season as the fiercest in 25 years.
Other international health agencies, such as the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), are certainly not underestimating the public health risks associated with the flu. PAHO is concerned that strains of the flu virus are becoming stronger and more virulent each season. They also believe that flu vaccination coverage should be widened to control the spread of this respiratory illness and reduce the global cost of the influenza epidemic.
PAHO states that "one of the major public health concerns is the sudden and pronounced transformation of the flu virus, which has resulted in mutations and has forced the development of new vaccines every year. This year, the spread of the flu virus began earlier than usual in Canada and the United States, affecting especially children and the elderly. Estimates as to the cost of dealing with the flu epidemic in the United States range between $71 billion and $167 billion".
A sudden headache and dry cough could signal the start of the flu attack. Then there is the runny nose, in some people, and a sore throat. Fatigue, achy muscles and fever are the other symptoms which health officials point to but indicate that these symptoms can blow over in a few days leaving behind the cough and fatigue for a few days longer. (Versus the common cold that starts with a scratchy, sore throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose and perhaps a mild cough lasting several days).
An indication of the more strident approach which international health officials are taking toward the flu, is found in the document from the September meeting of PAHO's Directing Council a meeting of health ministers from the Americas. Some aggressive measures to fight the flu were pointed to, they include:
Improve the quality and coverage of monitoring influenza
Develop national programmes to confront a flu epidemic
Analyse and study flu epidemics to figure out the repercussions and economic burden
Promote the transfer of technology for the manufacture of vaccines in the different countries
Improve the coverage of anti-flu vaccination
Improve the control of outbreaks in closed spaces.
COMMON COLD OR FLU
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control (CDC) advises that initial symptoms of the flu and common cold are similar and sometimes differentiating between them is difficult. However, the flu can cause more serious illness than a common cold.
The U.S. CDC tells its citizens that their best protection against the flu is an annual flu shot and that the simple public health measure of washing the hands frequently, and not touching the nose, eyes and mouth unnecessarily will cut the chances of contracting the common cold. The agency states that it is unusual to get the flu more than once per year, children however, may contract the respiratory condition more often.
The flu, the CDC advises, can lead to more serious complications such as pneumonia and sometimes death. Older persons, those 65 years and older, those with medical complications and young children may be more at risk for flu and flu complications.
