Just what you wanted to be reminded of - the Center for Disease Control will begin collecting statistics on the 2007-2008 flu season in a couple of weeks. This information about flu from the CDC's Seasonal Flu website: Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. Symptoms start one to four days after the virus enters the body Somewhere between 5% and 20% of the population catches the disease during flu season.
There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of disease almost every winter in the United States. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics. The current subtypes of influenza A viruses found in people are A (H1N1) and A (H3N2).
Health officials watching whether flu viruses are becoming resistant to drug tells that some H1N1 viruses resistant to Tamiflu have been observed in Europe and in lesser numbers, in North America. Recall a flu vaccine helps prevent the flu, but only an anti-viral drug like Tamiflu or Relenza can treat the disease once a person catches it. You have 48 hours to take Tamiflu after coming down with flu symptoms. However, as told in H1N1 flu viruses growing more resistant to Tamiflu, up to 31% of recent flu isolates have resistance to the anti-viral drug.
A couple of suggestions to avoid the flu this season: First, obtain a flu vaccination. A vaccination, or flu shot, is good for a year, so getting one now will protect you through the flu season. Believe it or not, Eat your veggies to avoid the flu tells that eating vegetables when exercising to fatigue, reduces the chances of catching the flu. The study actually revealed two things with laboratory mice - First, strenuous exercise does increase the susceptibility to catching the flu. Second, quercetin has shown evidence of increasing anti-viral activity.
Quercetin is a flavonoid found in many vegetables. Apples, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, and many berries have high concentrations of quercetin. Tea also contains the substance. It is sort of interesting - the 19th century quotation, "An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away," really was an accurate prescription.
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