Flu risk groups should get vaccinated

Influenza: Risk groups should be vaccinated. In addition to the B-type viruses, the new H1N1 virus types are also in circulation in Germany.

09/01/2011

Health experts advise so-called risk groups to get vaccinated quickly against the onset flu epidemic. In addition to the B-type viruses, the new H1N1 virus types (swine flu) in Germany are on the rise. In about two-thirds of cases, flu patients are infected with the new swine flu virus. However, the course of the disease is comparatively mild in most cases. As the disease is actually in healthy people, physicians can not always predict. Simple precautions can already be part of the flu protection.

Flu wave in Germany with the novel influenza type H1N1
In Germany, a veritable flu epidemic is currently raging, which will reach its peak in the coming weeks. Every second acute respiratory disease is influenza and two-thirds of the infections are caused by the swine flu virus. An increase in the flu epidemic is expected by the end of the school holidays. So the Walter Haas of the Robert Koch Institute told the „Doctors newspaper“, so „The whole thing really gets going when the holidays are over.“ Because especially children and adolescents often get stuck quickly and are considered „Motor of influenza ".

Due to the unexpected increase in flu cases, the vaccine is currently in short supply in the UK. British health authorities are therefore considering substituting pandemic vaccines. According to the Paul Ehrlich Institute, the situation in Germany was quite relaxed. "There are no inquiries from doctors or pharmacists that point to vaccine shortages," Dr. Susanne Stoecker. By mid-October this year, around 24 million vaccine doses have been released for the population.

Risk groups should protect themselves
In a healthy person, the course of a flu is usually relatively mild. However, it is important to protect people who belong to a risk group. The risky groups are classified as having a weakened immune system. These are u.a. Pregnant women, smokers and COPD patients, diabetes patients and patients with heart disease. The flu recommendation also covers medical personnel and people who come into contact with people through work. If there are signs of severe symptoms, the use of so-called neuraminidase inhibitors should also be considered, according to the RKI physician. These medicines can reduce and shorten the course of the disease. However, the vaccination recommendation is not only valid for risk groups. "Other people can get severe forms of immunological naivety." Recent weeks have shown that even in healthy patients, the flu can be severe to fatal.

Swine flu worries people
Many people now worry about the fact that the swine flu has been classified as a causative agent in the seasonal flu epidemic. But the combination of viral strains is not unusual in itself. The same has been observed in previous influenza pandemics, as reported by Silke Buda of the Working Group on Influenza (AGI) at the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. The course of the disease has been rather mild despite the occasional deaths. But it can just happen disease, as with all flu diseases, said the flu expert. A vaccine keeps the expert still makes sense. However, you should keep in mind, „that it takes about 14 days for the vaccine protection to be established“, explained Buda. It is also a simple protection to wash your hands regularly. If patients are already ill, handshakes and hugs should be avoided. It is better, according to the expert, to keep a distance from the infected. The common influenza type A virus H3N2 has been largely displaced by swine flu virus. In the last influenza wave, the original virus type was displaced by the H1N1 virus strain. The currently administered vaccine therefore contains vaccine doses against three virus strains. For the first time the vaccine was also specialized against the H1N1 virus. Furthermore, the flu vaccine also protects against the H3N2 virus as well as against a B virus type. (Sb)

Also read:
Swine flu: number of new infections is increasing
Swine flu is back: RKI recommends vaccination
Swine flu is no reason to panic
2 deaths from swine flu in Germany
Flu vaccine also protects against swine flu
Facts about the swine flu

Picture: Martin Büdenbender