About Seasonal Influenza

 

 

 

Seasonal Influenza

How influenza spreads

Protecting yourself and others

How influenza makes you feel

When to seek medical attention

Seasonal influenza is a respiratory illness, caused by the influenza virus that affects many Canadians each year. Influenza viruses are easily passed from person to person. Although most people will recover completely, 4,000 to 8,000 Canadians actually die every year from influenza and its complications.

 

Seasonal Influenza (The Flu)

Occurrences

Occurs every year during the winter months

Infection Rate

Affects 5 to 15 per cent of Canadians each year

Fatality Rate

Flu results in an average of 20,000 hospitalizations and 2,000 to 8,000 deaths in Canada each year.

Recovery

Most people recover within a week or two.

Groups at Risk

Some people 'at risk' for serious complications of influenza include:

  • very young (less than 24 months)
  • those at any age with certain underlying health conditions
  • people 60 years of age or older

Prevention

Annual influenza immunization is effective because the virus strain in circulation each winter can be fairly reliably predicted.

Treatment

Anti-viral drugs are available for those most at risk of becoming seriously ill.

 

How influenza spreads
Influenza is highly contagious and spreads very quickly especially in crowded places. The influenza virus enters your body through your nose or throat when you:

  • breathe in droplets produced by the coughing or sneezing of people who are already infected with the flu.
  • touch your mouth, eyes or nose after:
    • hand-to-hand contact with infected people who have not washed their hands.
    • touching surfaces or handling objects contaminated by infected people.

Protecting yourself and others
The most effective way to protect yourself and others from influenza is to remember the three C's - Clean, Cover and Contain

  • Clean your hand regularly with soap and water or hand sanitizer.
  • Cover your cough and sneezes with your arm tor a  tissue.
  • Contain your illness by staying home and resting.

These three principles of personal hygiene will help keep you healthy and prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses to other people. Other things you can do to prevent the spread of seasonal influenza are:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
  • If you blow your nose, carefully and promptly throw the tissues away into the garbage.
  • Frequently clean and disinfect household surfaces such as door knobs, light switches and countertops that may have been contaminated.
  • Avoid mass gatherings as much as possible if you have flu-like symptoms.
  • Encourage all members of your household, especially children, to follow these practices.

How influenza makes you feel
Almost always:

  • Sudden onset of cough and fever

Sometimes:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Common symptoms of influenza include:

  • Fatigue
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Sore throat
  • Decreased appetite
  • Runny nose

When to seek medical attention
If symptoms worsen or if there are other health concerns, call a health care professional for advice. Some of the signs that can signal progression to more severe disease include:

  • Shortness of breath, either during physical activity or while resting.
  • Difficulty breathing.
  • Blueish or grey skin color.
  • Bloody or colored sputum (saliva/spit).
  • Chest pain.
  • Sudden dizziness or confusion.
  • High fever that persists beyond three days.
  • Low blood pressure.
  • Severe persistent vomiting

Additional symptoms to watch for in children include:

  • Not drinking enough fluids or eating.
  • Not waking up or interacting.
  • Irritability.
  • Not wanting to play or be held.