Primary Prevention Of Influenza Outbreaks Could Be Improved

Primary prevention of influenza epidemics and pandemics is the main function of the World Health Organization Influenza Program. Established in 1952, this program is one of the best developed and longest running surveillance systems in existence, but much more is possible with todays advanced technologies, writes Dr. Scott Layne, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of California, in an article published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal, a publication of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In the article Dr. Layne explains the responsibilities of those involved with the program, from collecting samples from people displaying influenza virus symptoms to how those samples are currently reviewed and where the system can be improved.

Currently the program is able to analyze about 6000 samples per year. With improvements that could be implemented in as little as 12 months as many as 40,000 samples per year could be analyzed. The technology is available. Financing could be a problem. There are four laboratory sites worldwide that currently analyze data supplied by field technicians. The estimated cost to upgrade two of them is $15 million.

Analyzing samples taken from millions of people throughout the world that are suffering from influenza virus symptoms is necessary in order to accurately advise national public health officials about the strains of the influenza virus that are likely to cause seasonal outbreaks, allowing the vaccine for the seasonal flu shots to provide the most protection.

Recommendations, by public health officials for the primary prevention of influenza, always focus on the importance of the annual flu shot. However, because the current system requires so much time to generate and analyze data, the vaccines do not always provide adequate protection. For example, the annual flu shots for North America in 1997 was not a good match with circulating strains of the virus and provided inadequate protection from the H3N2/Sydney strain.

It is feared that relying on the current system to provide adequate protection from and primary prevention of influenza epidemics could result in numerous deaths worldwide, should a new strain of the virus suddenly emerge. Viruses are constantly changing, but usually they change gradually over time. Occasionally, they change suddenly causing more severe influenza virus symptoms in large numbers of people, before they are finally contained. The major epidemics of the last 100 years have been caused by a sudden change in an existing strain of influenza virus. Often one that previously infected only birds or other animals suddenly becomes highly contagious among humans, thus the reason for the concern over the H5N1 bird flu virus currently circulating in Asia, Africa and Europe.

Influenza virus symptoms typically include headache, body aches, and pain when moving the eyes, weakness, fatigue and fever. Cold like symptoms, such as coughing and sore throat often appear after the initial symptoms have subsided somewhat. Primary prevention of influenza transmission in the home and the community includes covering the mouth when coughing and sneezing, avoiding contact with people who are sick and avoiding contact with people who are healthy, when you are sick.

Patsy Hamilton is a mother of two, has twenty years experience as a healthcare professional and currently writes informational articles for the Immune System Booster Guide. Read more about how the immune system works and how to keep it healthy at http://www.immune-system-booster-guide.com.

For information about natural products that can help relieve and reduce the duration of influenza virus symptoms, please visit the Immune System Booster Guide.

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