Flu hospitalization rates across the country are the highest ever seen at this point in the season since tracking began in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With that in mind, Brittany Knight, a Ph.D. candidate in the Biomedical Sciences program, talked with one of our leading flu researchers Laura Haynes, Ph.D., professor of immunology in the UConn Center on Aging, for some additional insights into this year’s flu season. Here is what she found out. 

We are now well into the 2017-2018 influenza season and you may be asking yourself, “Is it worth the time to stop and get a shot?” I met with Dr. Haynes to discuss some basic knowledge everyone should know about the flu. First and foremost, she expressed the importance of getting the flu shot. Note: the flu vaccine is not a live virus and while you may get sick following the vaccination, the shot and its contents will not give you the flu.

She also shared that the CDC measured the distance that live virus can travel – and it’s a whopping 6 feet! Experts think the flu travels in tiny water droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. In other words, the coffee stop on your commute could be a two-for-one deal.

Ironically, researchers work in a sterile environment to study gross and scary things like influenza and other bugs that can make you sick without the fear of actually getting sick. However, in our daily lives, door handles and cell phones silently wait to pass harmful viral loads onto their unsuspecting victims. That’s why vaccinations and disinfection are so important to prevent transmission.

Save yourself the time lost lying in bed or worse – spreading live virus to an individual who is more susceptible – by getting vaccinated. Did you know the older population is the most susceptible to contracting the flu? Older individuals can become hospitalized because of the flu, which can lead to loss of muscle mass resulting in physical disabilities, and thus the use of a cane or wheelchair for support. In addition, the reason flu is more lethal in older individuals is due to the contraction of secondary bacterial infections that can cause pneumonia. Therefore, the shot is not just about saving your own health but also the health of others.

In Dr. Hayne’s view, the influenza season has two important goals concerning the older population 1) keep them out of the hospital and 2) prevent them from being bedridden.

Here’s some advice for disease prevention:

• Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds (using alcohol based sanitizers if available).
• Avoid touching your face
• Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands
• If you feel sick, stay home or avoid contact with healthy people

Remember to maintain those healthy habits by getting enough sleep, managing stress in a healthy way, eating a well-balanced diet, and staying hydrated.