Dean Wong

Last year there was a shortage of flu vaccine and many people went without the protection. This year there's enough of the medicine to go around with several locations in Ballard for people to get their shots.

In 2004, one of the main manufacturers of the flu vaccine had a large plant out of operation. To add to the problem, the vaccine did not cover one of the dominant flu strains.

"The shortage of vaccine and concerns about inadequate coverage against the dominant flu strain led to a very challenging year," said Dr. John Pauk, MD MPH, director of infectious diseases for Swedish Medical Center.

This year, although manufacturers have increased production, due to an expected high demand, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has directed high-risk people to get the shots first according to Pauk.

On the average, according to the Washington State Department of Health (WSDH), five to 20 percent of the population gets the flu each year.

Pauk said influenza is spread through exposure to a person's respiratory droplets, often touching contaminated surfaces.

"Pay particular attention to good, frequent hand hygiene, cover your cough to reduce the risk of transmission," said Pauk.

Symptoms include fever, headache, dry cough and muscle aches. People with the flu can also feel tired and weak. Congestion of the nose, throat and lungs is also common.

Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea often occur in children and WSDH says these symptoms are less common in adults.

One week of bed rest is required for most children and adults to recover from the flu.

Complications from the flu each year sends 200,000 people to the hospital. An estimated 36,000 people die from the flu annually, with most victims 65 years or older.

High-risk people are those with chronic diseases of the heart, lung, kidneys diabetes and HIV infection. This is especially true for residents of long-term care facilities such as assisted living and nursing homes

Once people are vaccinated, the vaccine provides protection starting about two weeks later and can last up to one year.

"It's important that anyone who lives and works closely with high risk patients get vaccinated, as this will help a lot to protect the vulnerable from being exposed," said Pauk.

To ward off the normal flu virus, local stores and hospitals have flu vaccines available. Call your local grocery store or pharmacy for days and hours for flu shots. Most require an appointment.

Swedish Medical Center's Ballard Campus is offering flu shots to the public on Fridays, October 28 and November 4 from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. in Conference Room ABC. The cost is $20. Pre-registration is required. Call 1-800-793-3474.

Local preparations for pandemic flu

King County Executive Ron Sims sent out a news release on October 12 in response to the growing concern about the threat of pandemic flu and he proposed major local strategies to deal with it if it arrives.

The pandemic flu is not to be confused with your common ordinary flu.

According to the CDC, "an influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza A virus appears or 'emerges' in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide."

Past influenza pandemics have led to "high levels of illness, death, social disruption and economic loss said the CDC.

"A pandemic can move around the world in a flash, so we must have medicine on hand and strategies to place to keep medical and other vital services operating. We need to empower our citizens and businesses with information to protect themselves and their families, and we need to buy medicine for protecting first responders and treating people at highest risk," said Sims.

There are concerns the bird flu in Asia can mutate into a strain that spreads from person to person.

CDC estimates that up to 200 million people can be infected with 100,000 to 200,000 deaths.

In Sims' press release, he stated that in King County, 1.2 million people could become infected within the first six weeks of a pandemic. Of that total, 57,000 could require hospitalization and nearly 3,000 could die.

Influenza A virus subtypes have caused three pandemics that have spread around the world in the 20th century. The "Spanish Flu," from 1918-1919 killed over 500,000 people in the U.S. Up to 50 million died worldwide, according to the CDC.

From 1957-1958, 70,000 people died from the "Asian Flu" in the U.S. In the years 1968-1969, the "Hong Kong flu," caused 34,000 deaths in the U.S. It was detected in China in early 1968 and spread to this country.

"Pandemic flu may overwhelm national or global resources quickly, so local preparations must supply the backbone for our readiness. This investment will strengthen our health care system's emergency capacity to serve those in need of care and will support our most vulnerable residents," said Dorothy Teeter, interim director and health officer for Public Health-Seattle King County.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed what it calls a Global Influenza Preparedness Plan to take measures in case a pandemic breaks out.

"We're over due for it. The conditions are ripe if we are not well prepared for it," said Pauk.

A pandemic could have catastrophic results and there is a need to raise public health awareness and have a plan set in advanced if it arrives, said Pauk.

Sims is proposing that $1 million dollars be appropriated for public education, $2.48 million for the anti-viral medicine Tamiflu to protect first responders, fire, police, emergency service workers and others with critical roles in the infrastructure.

Another $2.28 million would be spent on Tamiflu for high-risk people and $200,000 to support emergency communication in King County and the region.