Flu Season, and Vaccine, Looking Worse

[flashl]

ATLANTA (AP) -- The flu season is getting worse, and U.S. health officials say it's partly because the flu vaccine doesn't protect against most of the spreading flu bugs.

The flu shot is a good match for only about 40 percent of this year's flu viruses, officials at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

The situation has even deteriorated since last week when the CDC said the vaccine was protective against roughly half the circulating strains. In good years, the vaccine can fend off 70 to 90 percent of flu bugs.

Infections from an unexpected strain have been booming, and now are the main agent behind most of the nation's lab-confirmed flu cases, said Dr. Joe Bresee, the CDC's chief of influenza epidemiology.

AP

[phantom power]

1. Heh. Darwin says "hi!"

[Warpy]

2. Flu vaccine involves making an educated guess

about how the virus will evolve in any given year, six months before the season starts. Flu virus is a fast mutator, meaning it's different every time it goes around.

They guess right most years. Guessing 40% right might mean a bad year for guessing, but it's still a whole lot better than nothing. People who get sick from the other 60% of the circulating virus will probably get a much lighter case of the disease than they'd have gotten without the shot, and that can mean the difference between surviving and dying.

[Suich]

3. I've been sick since 2-02 and this stuff is nasty.

Anybody have any advice? I'm doing Thera-Flu at about 1/2 strength and that seems to help the cough.

No KO, no Survivor for 2 weeks, very limited DU (missed the heart thing altogether!), haven't opened a paper since 2-01....I must really be sick!

[Polly Hennessey]

4. Stay Healthy

Hang on even if it feels like "for dear life". I caught the thing the last part of November and did not lose the cough until January. I even stayed home for ten days and that didn't help. Bad stuff but you will pull through it.

[Suich]

5. Thanks for the kind words!

This is the sickest I've every been in 60+ years. I'm self-employed and work by myself so this kinda came out of nowhere. Living by myself is no help...no body to whine at!

btw, did you get the flu shot?

:hi:

[Celebration]

8. Someone gave you a heart!!

See, you didn't miss the heart thing at all.

Try to look at the bright side of this. The immunity that you get from this particular brand of the flu should last you the rest of your life, or at least several years. (Too bad there are other varieties, as well.)

[rasputin1952]

6. If you have been ill for 13 days, and OTC medication has not

helped, as a medical professional, I advise you to see a physician or a Nurse Practioner.

No one can diagnose you over the internet, and any treatments advised could easily have a negative affect.

I have yet to see a "flu" last 13 days, please seek professional help on this.

I hope that you feel better, but be safe, and do the right thing.

[Celebration]

7. aftereffects

I had the flu a few years ago and remember having to crawl to go to the bathroom. That stuff is amazing. I had a horrible cough for at least six weeks after, and had no energy at all for at least three weeks. However, at about day 10 I was able to watch television some and get on the internet.

I tried to go to the doctor at about day 2 and all he did was chase me out of the office. LOL. But if there is any suspicion of pneumonia, or fever, or anything other than improving some every day, yes, a visit to the doctor would be a good idea.

[lizerdbits]

9. I got the vaccine and got sick from my nephew

In fact all the adults around him a couple days before christmas got it and he merely had some minor sniffles. I usually don't get it either, I can't even remember the last time I had a fever and chills. All of us were pretty bad for a couple weeks and it lingered for a couple more. My dad had secondary bronchitis which made me glad I quit smoking (he's not a smoker but he's 65) or I probably would have had that too. I was close to going to the doctor but all of us had it last a while.

As Warpy said, they make the vaccine months ahead of time with the strains circulating at the time so by the time it's made and shipped out there can be new strains since it recombines so easily.