What is the flu?
The flu is short for influenza, which is the condition that results from infection by the influenza virus. It is different from the common cold in that the symptoms usually begin suddenly and include high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, runny nose, sore throat and muscle aches. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may occur as well, but are more likely in children.
The flu can last anywhere from two days to two weeks, and, in most cases, the flu goes away on its own.
So why all the fuss about the flu?
Although most people eventually recover from the flu without any trouble, there are still roughly 36,000 deaths in the United States resulting from the flu every year.
Certain people are more likely to develop serious complications from the flu, the most serious of which is pneumonia. The pneumonia can be the result of the influenza virus itself, or more commonly, it results from bacteria that invade the lungs after the body’s defenses are weakened by the influenza virus. Other complications include sinus and ear infections.
People who are more likely to develop complications from influenza are very young children, adults over 65 years old and people with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and emphysema.
How can you catch the flu?
People who have the flu are contagious one day before symptoms begin and for up to five days after.
The virus is passed when respiratory droplets from someone with the flu make contact with the lining of the nose and mouth of other people. This can be from a sneeze of an infected person nearby or a person touches their nose or mouth with hands that have not been washed after contact with the virus.
How to prevent catching the flu?
Since the flu can be passed by sneezing or hand-to-face contact, covering one’s mouth while sneezing can help prevent passing it and washing hands before eating or after coming into contact with a sick person can help prevent catching it.
However, the best way to avoid catching the flu is to get the annual flu vaccine.
What is the flu vaccine? Can I get the flu from it?
There are many different strains of influenza virus, which result from changes in the genes of the virus over time. Because of this, the types of influenza used to make the vaccine differ every year. Since the vaccine needs to be made before the flu season starts, it is possible that the vaccine you receive this year may not protect you against this season’s strain of influenza virus, if it is different than the ones used to make the vaccine. However, since the flu can be a serious illness and the risks associated with the flu shot are extremely minimal, there aren’t many reasons to avoid getting the flu shot.
Temple University will be administering only “inactivated” flu shots. This means that the influenza viruses used in the vaccine are killed and broken up into little pieces; it is not possible to get the flu from the flu shot. The body’s immune system creates antibodies to the harmless pieces of the virus, which gives you protection against the actual, “live” influenza.
Who SHOULD get the flu shot?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that any adult who wants protection from this year’s flu should get the flu shot. However, people who are more likely to develop complications from influenza should make certain to get the vaccine. These include:
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All people older than 50;
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Women who will be pregnant during the flu season;
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People with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, emphysema, diabetes, stroke, and heart, kidney, or liver disease;
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People with weak immune systems (from HIV or immunosuppressive medications).
In addition, healthy people who can pass the flu onto people who are at a higher risk of complications for the virus should get vaccinated. These include:
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People who care for young children (less than 5 years old) or older adults (more than 50 years old);
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People who care for people with chronic medical conditions.
Who SHOULD NOT get the flu shot?
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Anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to egg or egg products (the vaccine contains egg protein).
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Anyone who has had a severe reaction to the flu shot or its ingredients before.
What if I am sick now? Can I still get the vaccine?
You can still get the flu shot if you have a minor illness such as a cold, cough, sore throat or runny nose. People with more severe illnesses, accompanied by fever, should wait until they are better before getting the shot.
Coming soon: Free flu vaccinations
The university will be providing free flu shots to all Temple University employees. Dates for Main Campus, the Health Sciences Center and the Ambler Campus will be announced soon.
Temple Hospital also will be providing free flu shots for Health System employees only. University employees will be charged $25 for flu shots provided by the hospital.
For further information on the flu or the flu shot, please contact Dr. Joshua Rosenzweig in Employee Health at 215-204-2679. If you have other health and safety questions, concerns and/or suggestions, please contact the Health and Safety Committee at healthandsafety@temple.edu.