Influenza

Don’t forget to get your flu shot this season!

For information on times and locations of flu shot clinics throughout the state, check the American Lung Association website at http://flucliniclocator.org/

For clinics sponsored by the Kansas City Health Department, check
http://www.kcmo.org/health.nsf/web/fluclinics

For clinics throughout the St. Louis area, check
http://www.stlouisco.com/doh/flushots2006.html

See Pandemic Influenza information (http://www.dhss.mo.gov/PandemicInfluenza/) from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Influenza is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness that affects the health of large numbers of people every year. Most people recover within a week, but a cough and tiredness can last two weeks or longer. Some of the complications caused by influenza include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections as complications from the flu. Those aged 65 years and older, children under age 2, and persons of any age with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for serious complications of flu. The most common complication is pneumonia. In the United States, influenza and pneumonia combined is among the top 10 leading causes of death. On average, influenza is annually associated with more than 36,000 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations. In Missouri, influenza and pneumonia are associated with approximately 1,500 - 3,000 deaths per year. The economic impact of influenza illness is staggering. Studies have shown that in an average year, direct and indirect medical costs in the U.S. are in the billions.

Studies have indicated that influenza vaccine efficiency is approximately 70%-90% effective in preventing illness among persons 65 years of age or less. It is 30%-40% effective among the frail elderly, 50%-60% effective in preventing hospitalization, and approximately 80% effective in preventing death. The degree of effectiveness is dependent on a good match between the circulating influenza strains and the components included in the influenza vaccine each year. It also depends on the ability of each person’s immune system to effectively produce an antibody against the virus.

Worldwide influenza surveillance allows us to monitor influenza viruses in circulation. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitor influenza-illness activity nationwide. In each state, select health care providers in this sentinel surveillance system voluntarily report the number of patients they see with influenza-like illness each week. They also submit a prescribed number of respiratory specimens for influenza strain identification. In Missouri, suspected influenza outbreaks outbreaks in schools, hospitals, daycare facilities, nursing homes and other group institutions are reportable by law to the local public health agency. Laboratory-confirmed influenza is also reportable in Missouri. These surveillance methods help paint the picture of the influenza illness activity nationwide to help health care providers and public health practitioners work to reduce the incidence of influenza-related disease and death.