This Year's Flu Strain

The flu seems to be hitting our area very hard this month.  It's a strain that is not covered by this year's flu vaccine- so if you did have the shot, don't assume you are covered, you are not.  The disturbing thing about this strain of flu is how quickly it is turning to pneumonia and killing people.

A young friend of ours, age 23,was admitted to the hospital Christmas morning. She had spiked  a fever and had a cough that she thought was "wrong".  (She was a nurse.)  She died Friday night.  Keep in mind, she first began presenting symptoms Christmas Eve around noon.  Shannon was the picture of health, a runner through high school and college.  She was a fantastic young lady who had dreams of going places, doing things, and changing the world.

I heard that last night, our hospital was so full of people with the flu who were having trouble breathing, that the wait time to be seen was 9 hours.

This year's strain is a killer, and it is our responsibility to stop the spread of this flu in it's tracks.

Signs of the Flu

• A fever of 100* or higher, and feeling feverish.  (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
• A cough and/or sore throat.
• A runny or stuffy nose.
• Headaches and/or body aches.
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Symptoms of the flu are more intense than those of a cold.

When Should You Visit the Emergency Room

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Purple or blue discoloration of the lips
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Seizures
• Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Source for the above information: http://www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/symptoms/

Treating the Flu

STAY HOME

Don't go to work.  Don't go to school.  Don't go run errands, or go to the grocery store.  STAY HOME so that you don't spread this!  If you really need groceries, most grocery stores now offer home delivery.  If you need a pick up from the pharmacy, call a friend to pick it up for you and have them drop it on your porch for you.  Some pharmacies offer a drive-through pharmacy.  You can still pick up your meds, but you don't have to go into the store and risk picking up a secondary infection while your own defenses are down, or infecting other people.


Keep in mind, the flu is a viral infection, not a bacterial infection.  As a result, antibiotics will not work against the flu.  Tamiflu does work, but it must be taken within the first 48 hours of the onset of the flu.  Even then, you have to be able to find a pharmacy with Tamiflu in stock.  From what I heard yesterday, all of our pharmacies were OUT of Tamiflu.

You can treat flu symptoms without medication by:

• Getting plenty of rest
• Drinking clear fluids like water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages to prevent becoming dehydrated
• Placing a cool, damp washcloth on your forehead, arms, and legs to reduce discomfort associated with a fever
• Putting a humidifier in your room to make breathing easier
• Gargling salt water (1:1 ratio warm water to salt) to soothe a sore throat
• Covering up with a warm blanket to calm chills

Source: http://www.flu.gov/symptoms-treatment/treatment/

Prevention

WASH YOUR HANDS.  Every time you pass a sink, wash your hands.

DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE.  Even if you did just wash your hands, don't touch your face.  The mucus membranes around your eyes and nose are a prime entry point for germs.

Be careful when touching shared surfaces.  Use a paper towel to open bathroom doors after you wash your hands.  Wipe down shared keyboards.

At the grocery store.  Yep, I wipe down my cart handles, and I pack my own groceries in my bags.  However, I also wear gloves when I shop during flu season.  Yes, it looks a little odd.  They're the magic stretchy gloves that I picked up at the store end of season several years ago.  I wear them in the store, remove them when I get in the car, and wash them when I get home.  I am a germophobe.

Sleep.  Stick to your normal sleep schedule.  Make sure you are getting 8 hours of sleep a night, and go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.

Cover your mouth when you sneeze.  Have you seen the vampire sneeze?  You sneeze into your elbow.  If you use a Kleenex, throw it away as soon as you finish blowing your nose or catching your sneeze.

Stay hydrated.  Your body is a well oiled machine, but only when you keep the fluids topped off!

Exercise.  Okay, this time of year, people head to the gym.  But stop a minute and think about it - if the flu and other viruses thrive in enclosed places, the gym might not be the place to go.  If you can, get outside and get some exercise.

Cover your mouth when you cough.  Again, the vampire cover.  If you don't have a tissue handy, use the crook of your arm to cover your cough.  Those tiny little droplets are filled with germs, and they travel a very long distance before they stop.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm


My friends, stay healthy out there.  Do what you can to stop the spread of this strain of the flu.  If we all work together, we can stop this killer in it's tracks.