The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory for the prevention and control of Seasonal Influenza in the wake of the expected upsurge of influenza cases in different parts of the country.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) issued an advisory for the prevention and control of Seasonal Influenza in the wake of the expected upsurge of influenza cases in different parts of the country.
According to NIH, the objective of this advisory was to alert and facilitate the health authorities and other stakeholders for ensuring timely preventive and control measures encompassing preparedness to deal with the increased workload expected in the outpatient and in-patient departments during the next few months.
The advisory discussed that Influenza (seasonal flu) can spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing or can contaminate hands or other surfaces. It said that patients with chronic diseases (such as asthma, diabetes, cardiac and lungs diseases, etc.) pregnant women, elderly people, and children under five years are at higher risk of developing severe or complicated diseases. The advisory said that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection and severe outcomes caused by influenza viruses, particularly in high-risk groups.
Experts say the single best way to avoid the flu is to get the flu shot as soon as you can. The ideal time is early fall. But any time during the winter is fine if you haven’t already done it.
The vaccine is designed to protect against the flu strains health experts believe will be most widespread each season — for example, the H1N1 “swine flu.” Some vaccines work against four flu strains — you might hear them called quadrivalent. Others guard against four strains — doctors will call them quadrivalent.
In addition to vaccination, there are a number of personal measures that people may take to reduce their risk of acquiring influenza. Influenza is a viral infection that spreads from person to person principally when people cough or sneeze, or by direct or indirect contact with respiratory secretions from infectious people that are on their hands or on surfaces. The following recommendations are based on evidence from scientific studies and public health expertise.