General aspects
Prevention
Vaccination
Treatment
General aspects
What is seasonal influenza?
Seasonal influenza is a human illness, which is rife above all during the winter period. It is a severe respiratory infection caused by different flu viruses (Influenzavirus). Seasonal influenza is not to be confused with a cold or a chill.
It is progressing from west to east and is essentially caused by the influenza A(H1N1) virus, but also the A(H3N2) virus and, less frequently, the B virus. The majority of severe cases have been observed in people under the age of 65, and as seen with the influenza A(H1N1) virus in 2009, children, young people and pregnant women are affected in the first place.
How is the influenza virus transmitted?
The influenza virus is transmitted easily from person to person:
- by airborne spread, i.e. the virus spreads through the air via coughing, sneezing or saliva droplets;
- through direct close contact (less than a metre) with an infected person (through shaking hands, hugging, kissing or embracing);
- through indirect contact with objects that have been touched and thus contaminated by the person (e.g. door handles, banknotes).
What are the symptoms of seasonal influenza?
The most common symptoms of influenza without complications are a sudden outbreak of fever, shivering, headaches, muscular pains and a dry cough. The cough may last for a rather long time, but the other symptoms generally disappear after 7 days.
Seasonal influenza is above all dangerous because of the complications it can cause. Those complications essentially involve pneumonia, and occur more frequently among elderly people and those suffering from other chronic illnesses which make them prone to pneumonia.
Prevention
What simple and effective acts protect you?
The influenza virus can be transmitted easily through sneezing and coughing, in particular in enclosed spaces. Infected persons can transmit the virus to their environment even before they become aware of any symptoms.
During the influenza season in particular, do not forget to follow basic hygiene rules to minimise the risk of infection:
- Wash your hands several times a day by scrubbing them with soap for 30 seconds, and in between your fingers.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a paper handkerchief when coughing or sneezing, or failing that, use the hollow of your elbow.
- After having used the paper handkerchief, throw it into the rubbish before washing your hands.
- Regularly air rooms (3 to 4 times a day during 10 minutes).
Vaccination
Is there a vaccine against the virus of seasonal influenza?
As the influenza virus is constantly mutating, a new vaccine against seasonal influenza must be developed each year. It is possible to protect oneself against seasonal influenza each year from October by means of vaccination.
Vaccination is the only efficient means to protect oneself against the yearly seasonal influenza and the complications it can cause.
The vaccine against seasonal influenza is effective against the influenza spreading across Europe this winter, triggered by the A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B viruses.
When is the best time to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza?
Vaccination against seasonal influenza is recommended annually from the beginning of October onwards. People at risk and people likely to transmit the illness to those at risk should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza in early October.
Who should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza?
1. High-risk population groups:
a) people aged 65 and above;
b) adults and children suffering from chronic pulmonary disease (including children suffering from bronchial asthma) and heart disease;
c) adults and children suffering from chronic metabolic disease (e.g. diabetes) or renal illness (e.g. dialysis patients);
d) adults and children whose natural body defences are weakened by either an illness (e.g. HIV infection) or medical therapy (e.g. patients undergoing high-dose corticoid therapy);
e) adults and children suffering from sickle-cell anaemia or other haemoglobinopathies;
f) adults and children suffering from conditions compromising respiratory function and the evacuation of secretions or involving a high risk of aspiration (mental disability, myelopathy, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease);
g) children suffering from diseases requiring long-term salicylic acid therapy (e.g. Kawasaki, rheumatic diseases);
h) pregnant women, from their second term of pregnancy onwards;
i) people living in a closed community (retirement homes, nursing homes);
j) medical practitioners, nurses, other health professionals who come into contact with patients.
2. Population groups susceptible of transmitting influenza to those at high risk:
a) employees of homes and rest homes;
b) people sharing a household with a high-risk individual;
c) medical practitioners, nurses, other health professionals who come into contact with patients;
d) crèche employees and people looking after children under the age of two, including parents and siblings.
3. Groups of people to be vaccinated for socioeconomic reasons:
Teachers, bus drivers, medical practitioners, carers, etc.
Any people not belonging to these specific groups can obviously also protect themselves from the seasonal influenza virus and its complications through vaccination.
How is the vaccine against seasonal influenza administered?
Vaccination involves one single injection, but this needs to be repeated once a year. For children under the age of 9 months, two injections a month apart are recommended. The vaccination is carried out by a medical practitioner.
Is the vaccine against seasonal influenza available from pharmacies?
The vaccine is available from pharmacies by prescription. It is covered by the Caisse nationale de santé (National Health Fund) for category 1, "High-risk population groups", a) to g).
Does vaccination offer immediate protection against influenza?
No, it takes approximately two weeks for the immune system to mount an optimal defence.
Is the vaccine against seasonal influenza effective against influenza A(H1N1)?
Yes, since the seasonal vaccine offers protection against the A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B viruses.
Treatment
How to treat influenza?
Symptoms such as fever or muscle soreness can be relieved by using paracetamol-based medication. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is not recommended for children and adolescents.
Infected people are advised to stay at home, drink plenty of fluids and rest for the entire duration of symptoms.
It is recommended that antiviral drugs be prescribed for those who are at an increased risk of complications, in order to reduce the severity of symptoms and the risk of serious complications.
Which hygiene precautions must the sick person and his or her family respect?
The sick person and his or her family shall respect above all the following basic hygiene precautions:
- Wash one’s hands several times a day for 30 seconds with soap, including in-between the fingers.
- Cough in a hygienic manner by using a paper handkerchief, throwing it into the rubbish after use and washing hands. If no paper handkerchief is available, cough or sneeze into the hollow of the elbow and not in the hands. This will stop the virus from being transmitted via hands.
- Avoid body contact, such as hugging, kissing, embracing, shaking hands, etc.
- Clean commonly used surfaces (particularly in the kitchen and the bathroom) with soap or a water or alcohol-based solution.
- Regularly air rooms (3 to 4 times a day during 10 minutes).
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