These slides are excerpted from a presentation titled “I Don’t Need A Flu Shot!” By Bill Rogers, Ball State University

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “An average of 36,000 people in the United States die each year as a result of influenza-related complications. So getting the flu bug can be deadly!” Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Influenza is caused by an influenza virus.

Stomach Flu or 24-Hour Flu The “stomach flu,” sometimes referred to as the 24-hour flu, is gastroenteritis, not influenza. Gastroenteritis is an irritation of the stomach and intestines. It often is caused by bacteria, other kinds of viruses, or parasites. Poor hygiene or contaminated food or water are likely sources. While the symptoms of gastroenteritis may resemble influenza symptoms, gastroenteritis usually only lasts for a day or two.

CQ#1: Which of the following is true? If Ryan’s illness was caused by a virus, he should begin taking antibiotics. If Ryan has gastroenteritis, he should feel better in one or two days. Ryan’s stomach flu was probably caused by an influenza virus. The stomach flu kills around 36,000 people in the United States every year.

CQ#2: A flu shot may actually cause a person to get sick with influenza. A. True B. False

Flu viruses may change slightly from year to year Flu viruses may change slightly from year to year. This type of a mutation is called “antigenic drift.” A person may have little immunity to this mutated form of the virus. Antigens

CQ#3: New flu vaccines are made every year because: The current flu vaccines are not safe. Flu viruses mutate. The number of people who get the flu each year is increasing, so stronger vaccines are needed. People develop resistance to the previous vaccines. Vaccine manufacturers need to make money.

A pandemic is sometimes described as a worldwide epidemic.

“Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person.” Source: http://www.pandemicflu.gov

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Ccdk5wPvk&feature=youtu.be https://www.cdc.gov/publications/panflu/index.html Posted in Chicago, IL. 1918

“About 30 - 50 million people died worldwide during the 1918 flu pandemic including 675,000 Americans. An unusually high proportion of casualties was found among young adults, ages 20-40.” Source: http:1918.pandemicflu.gov

“During the 1918 flu pandemic, mortality rates were high among healthy adults as well as the usual high-risk groups. The attack rate and mortality was especially high among young adults.” Source: http:1918.pandemicflu.gov

CQ#4: During the flu pandemic of 1918: Elderly people were especially at risk. The mortality rate was high, second only to the Asian flu. Less than 600,000 Americans were killed. Unusually, healthy young adults also died in large numbers.

There have been two other flu pandemics since 1918: Asian Flu (1957) 2 million deaths worldwide, 70,000 in the United States Hong Kong Flu (1968) 700,000 deaths worldwide, 34,000 in the United States New strains of influenza appeared in 1977, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2009. Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH)

Source: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

Various strains of flu viruses are are found in different hosts.

A common host may become infected with different strains of flu viruses.

Different strains of flu viruses may combine to create a new strain of flu. This is called “antigenic shift.”

The new strain may be able to be transmitted between species as in the case of the “swine flu.” The new strain may also be able to jump from person to person.

CQ#5: The Swine Flu: Is most common in rural areas. Can be caught by eating undercooked pork. Is especially dangerous since pigs show different symptoms than humans. Is a result of genetically different flu viruses combining together in pigs.

Annual Influenza Production Timeline Surveillance Year-Round Strain Selection January - March Manufacturing and Production January - July Purification and Testing June - October Filling and Packaging July - December Shipping August - November; Beyond as Needed Vaccination October and Beyond Source: Sanofi Pasteur, Inc.

CQ#6: Which of the following is true about a flu vaccine? The vaccine will protect you from all strains of influenza. If a new flu strain is identified, a vaccine can be mass-produced very quickly, which will limit the severity of an outbreak. It has been demonstrated that flu vaccines have caused influenza in some instances. Mutations in flu viruses may reduce a vaccine’s effectiveness. One flu vaccination will last for several flu seasons.

Get a flu vaccine Take everyday preventative measures Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs Free flu resources are available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/index.htm

CQ#7: All of the following are true about flu pandemics EXCEPT: Pandemics are likely to be due to a new strain of the flu. The flu spreads quickly from person to person. People have little natural immunity toward the viruses responsible for the pandemic. Pandemics involve large numbers of people in localized areas.

CQ#8: Which of the following situations would be the most likely to contribute to a new flu pandemic? A year where very few people are immunized. An environment where flu viruses common to different species are present. A year when a single strain of the flu virus mutates. A year when people from all over the world gather together (such as the Olympics).