Dear Patients:

It is the purpose of these bi-weekly updates to keep you apprised of the situation here in Scottsdale, and to give you 'usable' information for making practical decisions about day-to-day living during the upcoming flu season.

 

FLU SEASON:

Typically, flu season doesn't gets into full-swing in Arizona until December or January, then it lasts for two months and resolves abruptly.  This year, the extent and duration of the season is still unknown, but we do know that the flu season is already starting to a modest degree.

Last week, there were 1000 reported cases of swine flu in Arizona.   This is considered a high amount, particularly for this time of year.  As compared to other states and populations, we are currently considered to be in a higher flu period.
 
That said, I have not seen one documented case of swine flu yet this year in this office.  I have heard about several, but I've not seen any that are certain.   As a result, I think that the flu season will start in full force in a few months, and not right away as some experts are suggesting.  This is good news, as it will allow us to get ready with the swine flu immunization.

 

SWINE FLU VACCINE:

The vaccine is currently under study in Europe and the US, and is rolling-out in Australia.  Initial information shows:
 
       80-90% effectiveness with 1 shot
       Protective immunity in some people developing in as little as 2 weeks

            (typically we say it takes 4-6 weeks for the flu shot to begin 'working')

       The shot appears safe as there have been no surprising side effects or

       complications in the study population

 

SWINE FLU VACCINE AVAILABILITY:

The vaccine will be shipped to our office in mid-October.   We will be getting a limited supply, and the government requires that it be given to the people in higher risk categories at first.  They will be monitoring compliance with this recommendation, as the swine flu immunization is being paid for and distributed by the US government.
 

Higher risk patients getting the flu shot initially include:

Pregnant women

Families with children under 6 months old

Health Care Workers with direct patient contact

Children 6 months - 5 years old

Patients 5 to 24-years old with significant health conditions

 

SWINE FLU VACCINE RISKS:
 
Although we tend to think of flu shots as having some small risk involved with them, the serious risks of complications from the swine flu shot appear similar, at this time, to the general flu immunization.  Also, we have data on the previous swine flu vaccination program from 1976.

 

Expected risk for complications from the swine flu shot are:
 
       1 in 2 million chance of dying from the shot
       1 in 1 million chance of getting Guillain-Barre (a polio-like syndrome) from

            the shot

 

PREVENTION STRATEGIES:
 
At this time, the best measures for preventing swine flu include:

 

       Regular and routine hand-washing
       Avoid direct, personal contact with people who have fever and cough
       If you have fever and cough, you should stay home
       Masks are not particularly effective and are only recommended for patients

            with high risk of complications from swine flu, who have a family 

            member in their household with the swine flu
       Anti-viral treatment is not currently routinely recommended for household 

            contacts of swine flu

 

MASKS:
 
       Surgical masks do not prevent you from getting swine flu,

            but they can help prevent spread (to a small 

            degree) 
       N-95 masks filter out 95% of virus particles in the air,

            when fitted properly, and are somewhat protective

            against exposure to swine flu

 

KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT SWINE FLU TRANSMISSION: