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The INDEPENDENT, September 3, 2009
To Your Health!
by Philip Darrah, R.Ph, Vernonia Pharmacy
Clearing up the confusion about the flu
Over the past couple of years, there have been a lot of reports
in the news about the flu – avian flu, swine flu, Mexican flu, canine
flu, and seasonal flu. What is the difference between all these
types of flu and what are the facts?
First we need to know what the flu, or influenza, is. Influenza is
a contagious virus that attacks the respiratory tract causing mild
to severe illness and, at times, can lead to death. Usual symptoms
include high fever, headache, extreme fatigue, dry cough, sore
throat, muscle aches, runny or stuffy nose and, occasionally, gas-
trointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Since all strains of the flu have similar symptoms, a culture of the
virus is needed to determine the strain.
Seasonal flu is that which occurs annually starting about No-
vember and continuing through April of the following spring. Annu-
ally, over 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die
in the United States from seasonal flu. There are usually three or
four different strains of the seasonal flu that can occur each flu
season. Each year, the CDC determines which strains will most
likely occur during the flu season and develops a vaccine to pro-
tect against those strains. The seasonal flu vaccine will change
from year to year and that is why revaccination each year is re-
quired to protect against the flu.
Antibiotics are not effective in treating flu. The most effective
way to treat flu is by prevention:
1. Getting a flu shot is the most effective way to prevent infec-
tion.
2. Covering mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or
sneezing and disposing of tissue in the trash.
3. Frequent hand washing.
4. Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth. This is how the virus
enters the body.
5. Avoid those who are ill.
6. If you run a fever, stay home until the fever is gone. You are
contagious only while you have a fever.
If you do contract the flu, your doctor can prescribe anti-viral
drugs such as Tamiflu or Relenza, which will shorten the time you
are ill and decrease the severity of your symptoms.
Now, let’s talk about all the other flu viruses. First is the H1N1,
or swine or Mexican flu. This is a new flu strain that originated in
Mexico last year in pigs and is able to infect humans and be trans-
mitted between humans like the seasonal flu. The H1N1 occurs
sporadically, with the last major outbreak in 1977-1978. The flu
pandemic of 1918 through 1920, also known as the Spanish flu,
caused 50 to 100 million deaths. The Russian strain occurred
from 1947 through 1957, and 1977 through 1978. Due to the long
periods between outbreaks, children and young adults are most
susceptible to the virus since their immune systems have never
encountered the virus. A vaccine for the H1N1 is currently being
tested and will be available in mid-October. The Center for Dis-
ease Control (CDC) is recommending an initial vaccination, with a
booster three months later.
Avian flu is a virus that affects birds, is not easily transmitted to
humans and is not a concern to us at this time. Occasionally,
avian flu can be transmitted to pigs where it can mutate and then
be transmitted to humans, but this is rare.
The canine flu is a new influenza that affects only dogs. Hu-
mans cannot contract this virus, but it can be transmitted from one
dog to another by humans who come in contact with an infected
dog and carry it to another dog on their clothing or skin.
In conclusion, the key to a flu-free flu season is to get immu-
nized, and the earlier the better. Vaccination is the most effective
way to prevent getting the flu, especially in those who are most
susceptible, namely the very young, the very old and those with
compromised immune systems.
The Greenleaf Acting Com-
pany presented two works of
Victorian theater during this
year’s Jamboree on the Ver-
nonia Grange stage.
The curtain-opener was a
one act comedy, “Phoebe
Louise,” by Bernard Sobel. It
was followed by a Sherlock
Holmes play, “The Mystery of
the Speckled Band,” based on
the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
short story that was adapted
and directed by Alberta Hardy.
Caleb Hardy was an excel-
lent Sherlock Holmes, with his
brother Ethan equally adept as
Dr. Watson. The other cast
members, all from three local
families, performed admirably:
Hailey and Sierra Jole; Juliana,
Maria and Anthony Pelster;
and Abraham, Margaret, Eli-
nore, Alberta, Boaz and Bene-
dicta Hardy.
The Greenleaf Acting Com-
pany donated a quarter of the
proceeds to the Vernonia
Grange in appreciation for the
use of the hall.
Free flu shot clinics in Columbia Co.
The Columbia Health District
Public Health will offer free flu
shots in five clinics throughout
Columbia County in Septem-
MTC Works would like to express our deepest gratitude to the many employers
who gave of their time and mentoring to the youth of our communities, through
the American Recovery Reinvestment Act and Oregon Youth Conservation
Corp. In challenging times, your involvement gave 83 youth the opportunity to
learn about various industries while earning a wage.
MTC Works/Old Town Coffee
St. Helens Fire Department
St. Helens School District
St. Helens Public Library
City of St. Helens
Vernonia Public Works
Vernonia School District
Vernonia Senior Project
Stubb Stewart State Park
Columbia County Historical Association
Dodge Law Firm
Jamboree plays
helped Grange
Wauna Federal Credit Union
City of Rainier
Rainier School District
Scappoose Public Library
Scappoose School District
Scappoose Senior Center
Columbia County Fairgrounds
Scappoose Bay Watershed Council
Columbia County Rider
Oregon Youth Conservation Corps
Oregon State Marine Board
Thank you for “Training Tomorrows Workforce Today”
ber. The National Centers for
Disease Control are encourag-
ing public health departments
to begin the seasonal flu shot
campaign as early as possible
this year. The senior centers in
each community will provide
the space for the free vaccina-
tion clinics, with the exception
of the Clatskanie senior center
and that flu clinic will be located
at the Clatskanie School Dis-
trict Administration building.
Free flu clinics for the public
are:
• Tuesday, Sept. 8, Scap-
poose Senior Center, 9:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 9,
Rainier Senior Center, 9:30
a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Thursday, Sept. 10, Clat-
skanie School District Adminis-
tration, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 11, Vernonia
Senior Center, 9:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 14, St. He-
lens Senior Center, 9:30 a.m. to
1:30 p.m.
For those who would like to
receive a flu vaccination but are
unable to attend one of the
above clinics, the Columbia
Health District Public Health,
located at 2370 Gable Road in
St. Helens, will take walk-ins
Monday thru Friday during the
normal hours of operation, 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The vaccine is for the regu-
lar seasonal flu. The H1N1, or
“swine flu,” vaccine is not ex-
pected to be available until Oc-
tober, according to the State.
For additional information,
contact Columbia Health Dis-
trict Public Health, 503-397-
4651.