Still time to get the flushot at Miller County Health Department

Getting vaccinated during December and beyond still provides protection, as fluseason normally peaks in January or later, says Miller County Health Department Nurse Manager Alida Ward.

"We have had fluactivity in Southwest Public Health District as late as March, so it is definitely not too late to get a flushot," Ward said. "Getting it now would help protect you during the height of the holiday season, when many people gather, travel and entertain. And while this may be the season to exchange gifts, the last thing you want to give or get from someone else is influenza."

Flu spreads mainly when people with influenza cough or sneeze, spraying germs into the air or onto surfaces. People may become infected by touching something with fluviruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

Influenza viruses from an infected person may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to fivedays after becoming sick. "That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick," Ward warned.

Symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough, extreme tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches, she said. Some patients also experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. "Complications of flu can include bacterial infections like pneumonia, ear infections, and sinus infections, dehydration and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes," said Ward, adding that more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized with flucomplications each year.

"Further, about 36,000 people die from fluevery year. About 90% of the deaths are in people 65 years and older, but some deaths occur in children each year as well," she said. "We particularly encourage those at high risk for complications to get flushots."

Those most at risk include:

• Children 6 months to fiveyears of age

• People 50 and older

• Pregnant women

• People with chronic medical conditions

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.