2008 Woodie Awards
College sick with the flu
Kimberley Rose
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
2007-2008's flu season has been hampered because of an ineffective flu match for influenza B. The vaccine did not produce immunity to the strongest strains of the influenza B virus.
" The irony is that this year we had enough flu shots to give out, but one of the vaccines was not effective against the influenza B virus. But, all the experts say that although the vaccine was not a match, it still provides some protection against the virus," Beverly Thames, spokesperson of San Mateo Health County said.
According to the Center of Disease Control's weekly report for the week of February 10-16, the rate of influenza activity has above average in the United States. All 49 states, except for Florida, have declared widespread flu activity. Out of all the tests conducted in the U.S. to determine if a person has influenza, 34% of those came back positive for influenza.
The symptoms for this season's flu include: coughing, high fever, back and head aches, and runny noses.. It seems this year's season flu is quite nasty. Within the past week the Health Center has seen more people coming in with flu symptoms and respiratory problems them previous weeks. "There are more people ill this week then last week," Sharon Bartles, Coordinator of Health Services said.
It usually takes about two weeks for someone to completely recover from this flu. The first three to four days are usually spent in bed, and for the rest of the remaining two weeks there is nonstop coughing and headaches. Not to mention the deprivation of all a person's energy as well. The good news is that if you get sick with the influenza this flu season if next flu season's virus is closely related then you have some immunity. The bad news is that this year's flu season can go through March and into early April.
The virus originally came from Australia, they experienced the virus during their flu season, from there it went to Europe and then to the Southern Hemisphere before it made its way here. Nine months ago scientists tried to create a vaccine that would protect against the influenza B virus, but as we all know that did not happen.
Right now scientists are gathering information about the flu viruses' strains that are infecting humans and how they are changing. North American scientists' deadline to gather information about the virus they believe should be in next year's flu shot was this February. After the scientists agree what to put in next year's flu shot they will begin to grow the viruses inside the chicken eggs.
Flu viruses can live on doorknobs, sink faucets and other counter top surfaces for as long as 24-48 hours at a time. So, it is essential that people are constantly washing their hands when they are sick, or perhaps more importantly when they are not. "The best and most effective way to prevent yourself from getting sick is to avoid touching your eyes, faces and mouth. Also you need to wash your hands-a lot," said Thames.
" The irony is that this year we had enough flu shots to give out, but one of the vaccines was not effective against the influenza B virus. But, all the experts say that although the vaccine was not a match, it still provides some protection against the virus," Beverly Thames, spokesperson of San Mateo Health County said.
According to the Center of Disease Control's weekly report for the week of February 10-16, the rate of influenza activity has above average in the United States. All 49 states, except for Florida, have declared widespread flu activity. Out of all the tests conducted in the U.S. to determine if a person has influenza, 34% of those came back positive for influenza.
The symptoms for this season's flu include: coughing, high fever, back and head aches, and runny noses.. It seems this year's season flu is quite nasty. Within the past week the Health Center has seen more people coming in with flu symptoms and respiratory problems them previous weeks. "There are more people ill this week then last week," Sharon Bartles, Coordinator of Health Services said.
It usually takes about two weeks for someone to completely recover from this flu. The first three to four days are usually spent in bed, and for the rest of the remaining two weeks there is nonstop coughing and headaches. Not to mention the deprivation of all a person's energy as well. The good news is that if you get sick with the influenza this flu season if next flu season's virus is closely related then you have some immunity. The bad news is that this year's flu season can go through March and into early April.
The virus originally came from Australia, they experienced the virus during their flu season, from there it went to Europe and then to the Southern Hemisphere before it made its way here. Nine months ago scientists tried to create a vaccine that would protect against the influenza B virus, but as we all know that did not happen.
Right now scientists are gathering information about the flu viruses' strains that are infecting humans and how they are changing. North American scientists' deadline to gather information about the virus they believe should be in next year's flu shot was this February. After the scientists agree what to put in next year's flu shot they will begin to grow the viruses inside the chicken eggs.
Flu viruses can live on doorknobs, sink faucets and other counter top surfaces for as long as 24-48 hours at a time. So, it is essential that people are constantly washing their hands when they are sick, or perhaps more importantly when they are not. "The best and most effective way to prevent yourself from getting sick is to avoid touching your eyes, faces and mouth. Also you need to wash your hands-a lot," said Thames.
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