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CDC Warns 2015 Flu Season Could Be Severe
BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN
I
nfluenza (the flu) causes around 40,000 deaths a year, not to mention suffering from illness and loss of work.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts a harsh influenza season ahead. From The New York Times to National Public Radio, the media are buzzing about the 2015 flu—a tough strain that this year's flu vaccine doesn’t match. The vaccine does, however, prevent other strains of the flu, so getting vaccinated still provides a significant level of protection.
Treatment for the flu includes antiviral drugs. CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., said, “Antivirals aren't a substitute for vaccination. Only vaccination prevents flu, but antivirals are an important second line of defense to treat the flu. And this year, treatment with antiviral drugs is especially important, particularly for people who are at high risk of serious flu complications or for people who are very sick with flu.” Dr. Frieden said further: “We can save lives with a three-pronged effort to fight the flu: vaccination, prompt treatment for people at high risk of complications, and preventive health measures, such as staying home when you’re sick, to reduce flu spread.”
WiRED International’s Community Health Education e-library offers two modules on the flu, one for grassroots audiences and one for health care professionals.
The general audience module describes the flu, discusses who is at highest risk, how to prevent the flu and how to treat it. The module designed for health care workers and other health professionals is based on CDC guidelines and offers a detailed examination of the three virus types that cause the flu. The course looks at issues such as virus structure, antigenic drift and antigenic shifting, compares seasonal and pandemic influenza and presents additional resources for further study.
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory infection caused by several flu viruses. It may look like the common cold, because it infects the same organs (nose, throat, lungs) and has similar symptoms. Influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times it can lead to death.
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