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Be wary of swine flu: CDC
by Jamie Anderson - January 8, 2010 - comments
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself should the swine flu return, claims CDC
Washington, January 8 -- The dreaded swine flu virus continues to wreak havoc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the lethal influenza is still active and resulting in illness, hospitalizations and deaths.
The overall swine flu activity is considerably lower compared to a couple of months ago, but is nonetheless circulating.
Need to stay vigilant
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC has urged doctors to "stay vigilant" and continue to test patients with relentless respiratory illness to thwart the spread of H1N1.
"We don't know what's going to happen over the next several weeks and months," Dr. Anne Schuchat said.
"I am concerned that people maybe complacent, that people may think this is all over. I would hate for people to make decisions thinking this is over and then get sick or severely ill," an apprehensive Schuchat said.
“I think complacency is probably our top enemy right now," added Schuchat.
Vaccination the best bet
Experts opine that the best bet to control the swine flu is to get vaccinated.
Vaccine not only protects an individual, but also reduces the risk of serious complications. It therefore becomes imperative for people who have some underlying medical condition because of which they are more susceptible to the virus, to get vaccinated.
"Having as many people vaccinated as possible is our best course of action, even if we can't read the tea leaves of the future," Schuchat said.
According to the latest data available with the CDC, 60 million Americans have already received the H1N1 vaccine.
There is abundant supply of the vaccine across states and can be had from the local health departments, community clinics, pharmacies and retail centers.
Vaccination Week
In order to encourage people to go in for the vaccine, the CDC intends to commence the National Influenza Vaccine Week this weekend.
The timing to initiate such a campaign is apt since the extraordinarily cold temperatures are likely to help the virus mutate into more lethal forms.
The possibility of flu transmission also gets heightened in such a scenario.
The health officials claim that since the flu season is fully underway, it is the right time for children below 9 years of age to receive a second dose of the swine flu vaccine.
So far 136 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been made available in the nation, which exceeds the current demand. The country has not made any decisions on whether to cancel or sell any of its orders for H1N1 vaccine.