AUSTIN (September 17, 2009)-It’s September, Texas high school football is in full swing and the crickets are starting to emerge – and flu season is upon us. So are you and your family members protected from the seasonal and HIN1 flu?

The Texas Medical Association is advising Texas families to plan ahead and get their vaccinations as soon as possible.

Physicians say act now or someone in your family likely will come down with the flu this year.

"We're anticipating a worse than normal flu season this year," said TMA Committee on Infectious Diseases chair, Dr. Edward Sherwood.

Dr. Sherwood, who also serves on the TMA ‘Be Wise – ImmunizeSM’ adisory panel, says the seasonal flu is always a serious problem but the additional H1N1 strain further complicates the situation this year.

The first line of defense, physicians say, is a flu vaccine backed by good health habits, such as frequent hand washing.

Dr Sherwood says the regular seasonal flu shot helps protect against the three strains of flu that are expected this year and a vaccine against the fourth strain, H1N1, is under development and is expected to be available in October.

H1N1 Vaccine
Priority groups are urged to get that vaccine as it becomes available.

The first priority groups recommended to receive the H1N1 vaccine are pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services workers who care for patients, children 6 months through 4 years of age, and children 5 through 18 years of age who have chronic medical conditions.

Others who should be vaccinated against H1N1 when the vaccine becomes available include people age 5 to 24 years old, and people 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.

Health officials are hopeful that only one dose of H1N1 vaccine will be required, but are currently planning for the possibility that two doses will be necessary.

Seasonal Flu Vaccine
Although seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for everyone, priority groups for seasonal flu vaccine are children age 6 months to 19 years, pregnant women, people over 50 years of age, those with a long-term illness or weak immune system, those who care for or work with ill patients, and people who care for children younger than 6 months old.

"Many people put off getting the shot and making preparations in the event they or another family member becomes ill with flu," said Dr. Sherwood.

"To keep our communities and nation running smoothly, families should have a plan," added the infectious diseases specialist.

How Can You Prepare For Flu Season?


• Arrange for childcare in advance in case a child becomes sick and you need to go to work.
  
• Have supplies on hand or have someone who can bring groceries if the adult gets the flu.
  
• Make sure ill children or family members do not return to school or work until they have been without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (longer for health care workers).
  

"We need to have enough fire fighters, school teachers, health care workers, electrical workers, and other business people on the job to maintain critical services," said Dr. Sherwood.

He suggests people check with their doctor if they have any questions about the flu and getting a seasonal or H1N1 vaccine.

TMA, located in Austin, is the largest state medical society in the nation, representing nearly 44,000 physician and medical student members.

The vaccine for seasonal flu is available as a shot or a nasal spray. People are encouraged to get the seasonal flu vaccine now.

The H1N1 vaccine will begin to be available in October.

How Is It Transmitted?
People cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe. No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu. Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs. The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.

Swine Flu Symptoms
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of seasonal flu and include:

Fever
Fatigue
Lack of appetite
Coughing
Runny nose
Sore throat
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea

What To Do If You Get Sick
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
(CDC)

Steps You Can Take To Stay Healthy
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze
Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them
(CDC)

World Health Organization Human Swine Influenza Site

CDC Human Swine Flu Investigation Site