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One of the worst influenza epidemics of recent years is rife across the country, with sometimes fatal consequences.
In Oregon, the flu has killed at least three children this season, against none before.
And this week again, a strain of the influenza A virus killed Stephanie Shradar, 37, and her unborn child. This left Stephanie's husband, Lee Shradar, widowed and their two daughters aged 5 and 7 without a mother.
The flu kills a Portland woman aged 37 and an unborn child
A late-season influenza A outbreak – a flu strain that accounts for about 99 percent of all influenza cases this year – has left thousands of people sick across the country.
Influenza A can be dangerous, but it's not an automatic killer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are some things to know about the virus.
SYMPTOMS
Influenza is a respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses. The disease can be mild, but it can also result in hospitalization and death.
According to the CDC, symptoms usually include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.
But the flu is not like the cold, it can kill and kill. Complications include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections or worsening of other pre-existing medical conditions.
Influenza is contagious and anyone can get it, although children, the elderly and people with certain medical conditions are at greater risk. The "flu season" usually extends from October to May.
Most scientists believe that influenza spreads when fragments of the virus spread through the air while people who suffer from it cough, sneeze or speak. Viruses are deposited in the mouth or nose of uninfected people and make them sick.
TREATMENT
The flu is treatable and it is important to contact a health professional promptly if symptoms occur.
Antiviral drugs can be used to treat the flu. If your doctor prescribes them, take them.
If you get sick, the CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours and minimize contact with other people to reduce the risk of infection.
Most people do not need to go to the emergency department when they get the flu. But the CDC advises people to seek emergency health care if they have difficulty breathing, bluish lips or skin, persistent chest pain or muscle aches, dehydration and high fever, among other conditions of urgency.
PREVENTION
The CDC recommends getting an annual flu shot to help prevent the spread of the flu. Influenza vaccines are safe and can reduce the spread of the virus and reduce the risk of complications.
The CDC also recommends using general sanitation techniques, such as avoiding sick people, covering coughs and sneezes, and washing hands regularly.
Getting the flu shot is easy.
You can use the CDC's online influenza detector and locate providers using your postal code. Vaccines are also usually available at your local pharmacy.
– Gordon R. Friedman
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