ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 1996 TAG: 9601100107
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: health notes
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY
By this time of year, everyone usually knows someone who claims to have had a bout with "flu." In Southwest Virginia, however, these sufferers probably did not have this year's official influenza Type A, the one we took the flu shot to avoid.
As of late last week, there were no official cases of flu in the southwestern part of the state, although cases had been reported everywhere else, said Dr. Elizabeth Barrett, assistant state epidemiologist.
But because no cases have been recorded yet doesn't mean there haven't been some, Barrett said. The holidays slowed the data collection.
To be reported as an official case of Type A flu, the virus must be confirmed with laboratory tests. That also can cause delay between reality of cases and reporting of them.
The state Department of Health gets its flu-watch information from a group of volunteer "sentinel" doctors throughout the state.
Even if this part of the state is being spared the most severe flu, Barrett confirmed that there certainly are a lot of "bugs" around causing people to get sick.
"We have people out here," she said.
Most of what people have suffered from is the "stomach flu," she said. Symptoms are usually not as extensive or severe as with the real thing.
"The flu is an upper respiratory infection. We're looking for people with a cough, a sore throat, a headache, a 100-plus fever and body aches," Barrett said.
Likely there is no way to avoid catching the mean flu, but people can do something to help them avoid old, ordinary flu bugs, she added.
"Remember what your mother taught you," Barrett said.
Wash your hands after you use the bathroom, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough, eat right and get enough sleep.
Also, if you use a public restroom, use the towel you dry your hands with to open the door so you don't touch the doorknob.
It's not too late, either, to take the flu vaccine. Barrett said it is especially advised for high-risk groups, such as people over 65, residents of nursing homes, anyone with chronic pulmonary problems, and anyone on long-term aspirin therapy.
Be aware, though, that you could take the flu shot and still catch the flu, she said. It takes about two weeks for antibodies against the flu to develop after you receive the injection. The best time for the shot is mid-October to mid-November.
The flu is a peculiar thing, even to experts. For one thing, the vaccine against one year's flu doesn't help against the next year's strain.
Also, why does it just strike people in the cold weather months?
"That's the million-dollar question," she said. It used to be that medical experts attributed the timing of the flu to the fact that people were shut up together more in the colder weather, but that answer isn't sufficient, she said.
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB