What's the best way to control the spread of influenza?

Question

Read more:

Flu vaccination rates rise but still fall short of targets: reports
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/071002/health/health_flu_shots

Flu shots reduce hospitalization, death among seniors: study
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/071003/national/flu_shots_seniors

Answer 1

Wash your hands frequently, alcohol based hand cleaner, cover your mouth and nose then wash your hands,stay home if you are sick!

Answer 2

The best way to control the spread of the flu is to promote a strong, healthy functioning immune system through diet, exercise, hygene and a healthy balanced nervous system. Have you ever wondered why some people get the flu and others don't.

A yearly flu vaccine has not been proven to prevent flu-related deaths in people over the age of 65, according to a review in the Lancet medical journal.

No studies have conclusively proven that flu shots prevent flu-related deaths among the elderly, according to the review, and some of the support for this practice is based on flawed data.

While some studies have shown a benefit for flu shots in younger adults, only a small number of trials included people over the age of 70 -- even though about 75 percent of flu-related deaths occur among that age group.

There is also evidence, according to the researchers, that the flu vaccines are less effective in older people because the elderly have lower immune activity.

Flu shots do not always prevent infection with the flu, though they can make the illness less serious.

The flu shot is a crutch that has not been proven to stop or help the spread of the disease in elderly or children (both considered high risk groups).

This is the time of year when campaigns begin all over Canada and the United States -- at your doctor’s office, your pharmacy, and even at your grocery store -- urging you to get a flu vaccine.

Hopefully you review the data and scientific support so that you will not fall for all of the hype.

As this review has found -- flu shots are not even proven to reduce flu-related deaths in the elderly (one of the key groups for which they’re recommended).

What, then, is the point?

The point, as with so many other drugs and vaccines, is to pad the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture these worthless shots, and indirectly benefit the governmental agencies and personnel to whom they pay loads of money in the form of “lobbying” and “consulting fees.”

You may also be surprised to learn that nearly three years ago, a similar study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that flu shots prevent far fewer deaths in the elderly than previously thought.

That report highlighted that although immunization rates in the elderly (people over 65) increased 50 percent in the past 20 years, there has not been a consequent decline in flu-related deaths.

This certainly begs the question, if this finding came out years ago, why has nothing been done in the meantime to change the recommendation?

And, though the current review provides excellent documentation as to the inadequacies of the flu vaccine, a very disconcerting statement was made by CDC flu expert Dr. Joe Bresee in the Reuters article above.

He said the CDC is considering other measures to tame the flu, including “the widespread vaccination of schoolchildren.” The rationale behind this is to stop the flu in children who “are a big part of community transmission.”


FYI - In 2005 the Calgary Herald ran a story that the Calgary health region had draw for several $500.00 prizes to their Nursing staff to encourage them to get the flu shot. Even the Nurses and Doctors know the shot does't work!!! The more educated a person is, the less likely they are to get the flu shot.

Answer 3

Influenza is a viral respiratory infection causing fever, coryza, cough, headache, and malaise. Mortality is possible during epidemics, particularly among high-risk patients (eg, those who are institutionalized, at the extremes of age, have cardiopulmonary insufficiency, or are in late pregnancy). Diagnosis is usually clinical and depends on local epidemiologic patterns. High-risk patients, their caregivers and household contacts, health care practitioners, and all children aged 6 to 24 mo should receive annual influenza vaccination. Antiviral treatments include the neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir, which are effective for both influenza A and B, and amantadine and rimantadine, which are effective only against influenza A.
Vaccination against influenza with a flu vaccine is strongly recommended for high-risk groups, such as children and the elderly.

Answer 4

When someone you know has the flu or is getting the flu, the best way for you not to get it would be to (1) wash your hands often, (2) drink lots of fluids, and (3) keep sugars low as sugar breaks down your immune system. I would also highly recommend that patients should go see a Naturopathic Physician; you don't see flu shots in their offices.

Answer 5

Remember the good ol' fashioned way: wash your hands frequently. Keep your fingers / hands away from your face. There's 14 ways to get sick: your ten fingers, your two eyes, your nose and your mouth. Putting your fingers in your eyes, nose and mouth is a surefire way to get sick. Or course a flu shot if you're vulnerable. Just follow the good ol' fashioned methods. Not 100 percent perfect, but these reduce sickness.

Answer 6

For us the answer is proper hygeine with prevention. By taking multi-vitamins and keeping our immune system strong, (laughter and a happy outlook have been proven to keep your immune system stronger) and by having the flu shot. We do use sanitizers but over a long period of time they can actually reduce your bodies resistance to certain bacteria so don't depend on them. If you do, save yourself some money and grief by using vinegar. (Get a carry bottle from the dollar store.)

Answer 7

Several thoughts:
1. Make sure public transport -buses,vehicles, and washrooms are cleaned and disinfected daily-might need to hire a few more cleaning staff...Ditto for restaraunts...have seen some horrible examples of neglect...
2. Make sure that school students are not just taught hygiene-have monitors in washrooms and parents at home make sure they practice it...
3.Teach proper hygiene to the public-many do not wash their hands after using restrooms and do not carry tissue with them when coughing and spitting on public sidewalks.
4.Tell those who are ill to stay at home till they are well for the sake of students or co-workers.
5. Fine restaraunts and coffee shops who do not keep a clean atmosphere for their customers or have staff who are unkempt and neglectful about common cleanliness.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Hi, I work in the university and we have a lot of students, that get sick with cold, flues and sinus infections...I am a cleaner, I wash my hands a lot and I mean wash them...I do not put my hands near my face or in my mouth....I also wear gloves and change them as well....My mop heads are also changed from lab to labs.....I feel that you can get all you need, but the germs are airborne and are transferable from door handles and wash rooms, and people throw away there soiled Kleenex, and they sit around in the garbage pails.. ect....so yes I say the shot is great, but they need to really spread how to control one self to limit the problem....just my thoughts!...Ann Todd in peter-borough

Answer 10

Look at the dangers of long term vaccinations can result. Such as creating a superbug or leaving people who haven't got sick for years being not ready to fight the flu once they do get it as their system is not used to fighting it any longer. Therefore becoming dependant on the vaccines.

Answer 11

the single most effective method of preventing the spread of any infectious process is simple handwashing. Good old soap and water at east every hour, and if soap and water are unavailable then an alcohol based hand sanitizer will do. (soap and water really are more effective, but the sanitizer is better than nothing)
Avoid touching your face until after you have washed your hands, do not share drinking glasses or eating utensils, avoid large crowds in enclosed places, and wash after you touch any public surface, like door handles, telephones, shopping carts and atms. Cold and flu viruses are NOT airborne in transmission, they are transmitted hand to mouth, touch any infected surface, touch your face and bingo, you get sick.