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County Health Officer advises to get your flu shot now

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Cindy Riniker

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

The flu season is almost upon us and people should be thinking about getting vaccinated soon, says Crawford County Health Officer Cindy Riniker, who noted the season officially begins on Oct. 1, but every season varies in length and severity.

The vaccine is available now, said Riniker. The vaccine is a quadravalent that covers four strains of the flu including strains 2A and 2B. She said the vaccine is for anyone 6 months old or older.

“Get it now so you’re covered before the flu season starts,” said Riniker. “Get vaccinated. The sooner, the better. Getting the flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your family and your friends against the flu and slow the spread of the disease.” Riniker said it is best to get what is available.

Riniker said the flu virus is always changing, and thus, the vaccine is updated every year. This year’s vaccine is a dead (inert) virus, so it can’t harm anyone.

“The flu vaccine is safe and you cannot get the flu from the vaccine,” she said, in explaining that people who get sick after being vaccinated, were exposed to the virus before they were vaccinated.

“It takes up to two weeks to have yourself fully covered by the flu vaccine,” Riniker said. 

The 2017-18 flu season was deadly. On Feb. 10, 2018, Fortune magazine reported that influenza in the United States was killing up to 4,000 Americans a week. In the first week of February, deaths from influenza and pneumonia were responsible for one of every 10 deaths in the US, according to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. There were 4,064 deaths from pneumonia or influenza recorded in the third week of 2018, according to the CDC. 

Riniker said another significant statistic is that more than 7,000 people were hospitalized in Wisconsin because of the flu during the 2017-2018 flu season. Those hospitalized were of all age groups. 

Riniker also noted that only 20 to 30 percent of Crawford County residents were vaccinated last season.

“We would like to see that improve significantly,” said Riniker regarding the percentage of vaccinations in the county.

Riniker said seasonal flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads easily each year, mainly during fall, winter and spring. Flu is different from and worse than a cold. People with flu usually feel achy and have a fever.

When a person with the flu sneezes, coughs, talks or laughs, the flu virus can spread into the air as droplets. The droplets can spread to people and surfaces up to six feet away. Flu viruses can live up to 48 hours on some surfaces. Flu viruses can spread to your hands if you touch anything that has the virus on it. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you might get the flu. A person can spread flu about one day before they feel sick and up to five days after getting sick.

Symptoms of flu include fever (100 degrees F or higher), body and muscle aches, headache, feeling tired or weak (can be extreme), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and stomach symptoms (mostly in children). 

Illness from flu can start one to four days after exposure, can make other health problems worse, and can cause pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death.

Riniker said that if you have the flu, you should call your healthcare team within 48 hours for advice about what to do next. Antiviral medicines may reduce flu symptoms if started within 48 hours of your first symptoms. Stay home and rest, and drink fluids. Take medicines for fever, such as acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil or Motrin).

To help prevent the flu, Riniker said people should get a flu shot. They should also avoid contact with people who have a cold or the flu. They should clean their hands often, and keep their hands away from their face, eyes and mouth. They should cover their coughs and sneezes. They should stay home when sick and limit contact with others.

For more information about the flu vaccine, contact the Crawford County Health Department at 326-0229.

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