**THE FLU”’ has become something of a catch-all we ap-
piy to just about any ilIness that makes us feel miserable
during the winter months, from a common cold to any
number cf minor viruses. However, there really is an ill-
ness that’s called the flu, its proper name is influenza, and
it poses a real threat to our health.

Influenza is a virus that makes
us a lot sicker than the more
common winter viruses. At first
we're unaware we even have it,
but after 2 few days we begin to
develop things like chills, burning
watery eyes, a bad cough, sniffles,
headache, overall body ache,
stomach ache, nausea, weakness,
diarrhea and a fever as high as
38-40°C. It’s easy to see why the
flu. leaves even young, healthy
people feeiing exhausted, in some
cases fos weeks.

Influenza is also one of the
most contagious viruses known to
medical science. Just being in the
room with someone who has it
means you can easily get it.

When a flu. victim coughs,
sneezes or even talks, the virus is
sent into the air where it can éasi-
ly be breathed in by someone else.
And since the flu is active in our
bodies days before we're even
aware of it, we can be spreading it
“around unknowingly. Small
wonder that during a severe out-
‘break 30% of the population can
be affected.

' The flu can make anyone very
sick, but according to the Cana-
‘dian Public Health Association, it
can be deadly to peuple in what
they call “high-risk groups,’ in-
> :¢luding: people over 65; those
“ with chronic heart, hung or kidney
‘disease; and those with diabetes,
“cancer or anaemia. The danger
lies in the fact that the flu leaves
‘its victims susceptible to other in-
'. fections, the most common and
tmost dangerous of which is
. -, bacterial pneumonia.
"JF you're in a high-risk group,
your body has a tough -time

| <‘fighting off an illness like this.

:‘Many people end up in hospital,
. “aud some of them die. In fact, it’s
i; -.e6stimated that about 5,000 Cana-
- idiams die each year as a result of
. flu complications; more than 80%
of those people are over 65.

- Considering the dangers, it’s

: surprising that only about 30% of |

‘people in the high-risk groups get
a flu shot cach year. Part of the
problem is lack of awareness,

By Judy Burrell
Contributing Writer

prevented. We're working hard to
make sure everyone is aware of
both those facts.”

Fear of experiencing side effects
such as body aches and fever from
the injection has also kept many
people from getting a flu shot.

SIDE EFFECTS
MINIMIZED

This year the provinces, with
the exception of Quebec and Brit-
ish Columbia, have purchased a
much less reactive flu vaccine for
general use, called split virus vac-
cine.

As the name suggests, the virus
used in this vaccine has been split,
and while it works just as well as
the traditional vaccine made from
the whole virus, the side effects
have been decreased dramatically.

Studies show only about 12%
of those receiving the split vaccine
experience flu-like side effects.
Some people will stil! get soreness
at the injection site, but it disap-
pears in a day or so.

Flu vaccines are considered ex-
tremely safe. Split vaccine can be
given to anyone over six months
of age; whole vaccine is safe for
those over 13 years of age. Both
vaccines are effective in preventing
or reducing the severity of influ-
enza.

Flu vaccine was first developed
in 1937. Since then, each year,
scientists predict which strains of
flu will be prevalent and grow
those strains in fertilized chicken
eggs.. When enough has been
grown, the virus is zemoved,
purified and killed. Usually three
virus strains are combined in the
final flu vaccine each year.

The dead virus strains activate
‘your immune system to allow your
body to protect itself from the in-
fluenza strains that are in the vac-

which is why groups like the Lung —_-

Association are actively promoting
* flu immunization.

“When we're faced with a life-
‘threatening illness that’s preven-
table and people are ignoring the
‘treatment, we know we've got to
. get the word out,”’ says A. Les
- McDonald, director of Health

‘. . Education and Program Services

‘for’ the Canadian Lung Associa-
‘tion. ‘‘Fact is, the flu can kill. But
' it’s also true that the flu can be

Hockey game
will benefit
{. Big Brothers

’PRESENTATION HOUSE’s
courtyard will be transformed into
a hockey rink Saturday as mystery
teams made up of spart
celebrities, members of the

“,theatre, media and publishing

world face off in a light-hearted
game of ball hockey to aid Big
Brothers of Greater Vancouver.
” The star of Presentation House
Theatre’s current production of
Life After Hockey, Dwight
McFee, will be on hand to sign his
personal hockey card, now a col-
lector’s item.

Hot dogs and drinks will be
available, with profits going to
Big Brothers of Greater Van-
couver..

Presentation Hcuse will also be
giving away free student tickets to
Life After Hockey when one aduit
ticket is purchased.

‘COLONY

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cine. Because the process involved
in growing the virus may result ir
small amounts of egg protein be-
ing present in the serum, people
with an allergy to eggs or egg
products shouldn’t get a flu shot.

Flu vaccine is 70 to 90% effec-
tive. The few people who do get
the flu after receiving a shot tend
to experience a mild case and re-
cover quickly. Because the virus
you’re inoculated with is dead,
you can’t get the flu from a flu
shot.

The vaccine won’t protect you
against colds or lesser viruses since
it’s specifically designed to fight
the influenza bug. But remember,
those other viruses don’t make
you nearly as sick, and they rarely
leave you susceptible to secondary
infection.

Friday, November 22, 1991 - North Shore News — 417

Flu shots help fight the seasonal threat

ANYONE CAN BENEFIT
FROM FLU SHOT

While it’s most important for
those in the high-risk groups to
get their flu shots, there are many
others who should consider getting
immunized, such as: people who
live or work with anyone in a
high-risk group —- nurses, doctors
and other health care workers;
people who work in a situation
where flu can easily spread —
teachers, daycare workers; people
who provide essential community
services — police officers,
firefighters; and anyone else who
wishes to reduce his or her chance
of getting influenza.

If you do get the flu, the only
way to cope is to let it run its

course. The Canadian Public
Health Association suggests you
stay in ded, take aspirin to relieve
the aches and pains, and drink
lots of fluids. The flu can last
from three days to two weeks but
if your symptoms jast any longer,
see your doctor. And remember,
dragging yourself to work isn’t
doing anyone a favor. You risk
catching a secondary infection,
and you'll be spreading the virus
around, too.

“The flu scason doesn’t siart
until late fall, but since it takes
about two weeks for your body to
taild up immunity, get your flu
shot early,”? says Dr. Christofer
Balram, chairperson of the
Epidemiology and Disease Contro}
Division of the Canadian Public
Health Association.

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