Kansas to Receive Additional Flu Vaccine from CDC

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) will receive an additional 900 to 1,000 doses of adult influenza vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vaccine will be distributed to local health departments throughout the state. Additional flu vaccine for children is expected to arrive in January.

"We are pleased to be getting these additional doses, but realize it may not be enough to meet the current demand, " said KDHE Immunization Director, Sue Bowden. "The additional vaccines should go to high risk individuals including children ages 6 - 23 months, those 65 years of age and older, women who are more than 3 months pregnant, and adults with some chronic health problems."

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is working closely with local health departments and health care providers to determine where remaining vaccine is available in the state. KDHE will assist with redistributing vaccine supplies from providers in areas where need has dropped to providers in areas where need remains high.

"For those who do not receive a flu vaccination, there are things to do to prevent sickness such as hand washing, avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth and avoid close contact with people who are sick," Bowden said. "For those who are ill, it is important to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands often, avoid sharing personal items such as towels or drinking glasses, and stay home when you are sick."

Influenza/Pneumonia Related Deaths in Kansas

During the current flu season (Sept. - Dec.) in Kansas, 4 people have died of influenza, 123 people have died of pneumonia, and another 334 people have died of complications from influenza or pneumonia. This brings the total influenza/pneumonia related deaths in Kansas to 461 since September. (See attached chart).

During last year's flu season in Kansas (September 2002 to May 2003), more than 1,600 Kansans died of influenza/pneumonia related illness. Each year in the United States 36,000 people die from complications related to the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Some individuals are at greater risk of influenza complications or pose greater risk to others and should have priority in receiving the vaccine:

• Individuals over 65 years of age.
• Children age 6 - 23 months.
• Individuals with some chronic (on-going) long term health problems.
• Women who are at least 3 months pregnant during flu season.
• Health care workers and others who provide care to high risk individuals

KDHE recommends the following during flu season:

• Wash your hands before/after coming in contact with people and after sneezing/coughing.
  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.

• Limit contact with large crowds of people and stay home if you have flu-like symptoms.
  • Contact your medical provider first if you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms that you believe require medical attention.

Reporting Influenza in Kansas

Influenza is not a reportable disease in Kansas, therefore KDHE does not receive case by case information. Instead the state receives reports from local health departments and regional sites (sentinel sites) where doctors and hospitals provide details on FLU activity in each region and also send some specimens for testing to the Division of Health and Environmental Laboratories (DHEL) at KDHE. The state laboratory tests viral specimens to identify specific strains, and notes any changes in the strains from the initial outbreak continuing throughout the influenza season.

Effectiveness of the Vaccine This Year

The flu vaccine is usually around 80 percent effective in preventing illness from influenza virus. This means that it is possible to get influenza after having the vaccine, but even when illness occurs symptoms are usually less severe and complications less frequent.

This year's vaccine protects against the strain A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2), but A/Fujian/411/2002 (H3N2) has been identified in individuals in the U.S. and other countries. Although vaccine effectiveness against A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses may be less than that against A/Panama/2007/99-like viruses, it is expected that the current U.S. vaccine will offer some cross-protective immunity against the A/Fujian/411/2002-like viruses and reduce the severity of disease.

Flu Symptoms

If you begin to feel achy and feverish with a dry cough, get plenty of rest, drink plenty of liquids, and use aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce fever. Due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome, aspirin and other medicines containing salicylate should not be given to children.

New medications are available to reduce the severity and shorten the duration of influenza, but they must be administered within 48 hours of illness onset.

Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness, and its symptoms include sudden onset of fever, sore throat, muscle aches, and non-productive cough. More serious illness can result if pneumonia occurs. Influenza is spread by direct contact with an infected person or by airborne droplets which produce infection when they are inhaled or ingested off the hands. Persons are most contagious during the 24 hours before they develop symptoms and are usually somewhat infectious for the next six or seven days. The incubation period, the time from when the virus enters the body until symptoms appear, is usually one to three days.

Treatment

Treatment for uncomplicated influenza includes bed rest, adequate fluid intake, relief of cough and sore throat symptoms, and aspirin or acetaminophen to reduce fever. While it is possible to get influenza after having the vaccine, when illness occurs symptoms are usually less severe and complications less frequent.

For more go to: or www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/weekly.htm

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