When you’re thinking about quitting tobacco use

Vaccination Can Save Your Life Older Americans have been around the block several times and know plenty about surviving life’s challenges – big and small. But one challenge that many will face this and every influenza season is “influenza,” which might present more than a minor setback. For most individuals , getting influenza, widely known …Continue reading →

It’s been said that “nurses are the heartbeat of the health care system.” Without them, the system couldn’t survive. Sometimes, nevertheless, in their dedication to caring for others, nurses may forget to take care of themselves. This, too, can significantly burden the health care system, in particular when nurses catch the flu. Statistics show that …Continue reading →

Spread the word about the influenza vaccine, not the virus When you have ever had influenza, or “the flu,” you know it is far worse than the common cold. and while you lay in bed, exhausted, suffering from fever, body aches and abysmal congestion for a week or so, you probably wondered who to blame …Continue reading →

You have done your homework, researching and interviewing to find the best care for your child, but is your caregiver – nanny, babysitter, daycare worker or family member – protected against the flu? Flu takes a big toll on young children. Annually in the USA, an averageof 20,000 kids younger than 5 are hospitalized because …Continue reading →

Flu is a serious contagious illness. Each year in the United States, on average- o  More than 200,000 individuals  are hospitalized from flu complications. o  20,000 of those hospitalized are children younger than 5 years old. o  36,000 individuals  die from flu. Take action to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu. The …Continue reading →

Influenza A viruses are found in many different animals, including ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, horses and seals. Influenza B viruses circulate commonly only among humans. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus –  the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 16 different hemagglutinin …Continue reading →

Influenza viruses can change in two different ways. One is called “antigenic drift.” These are small changes in the virus that happen continually over time. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by the body’s immune system. This process works as follows –  a person infected with a particular flu virus …Continue reading →

There are three types of flu viruses –  A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal epidemics of illness nearly every winter in the U.S.. Influenza kind C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and aren’t thought to cause epidemics. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on …Continue reading →

Can the flu shot give you the flu? No, the flu shot can’t cause flu disease.  The three flu viruses contained in the flu vaccine are each inactivated (killed), which means they can’t cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu …Continue reading →