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October 2, 2008
Geneva, Switzerland - Dr Keiji Fukuda, Head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Influenza Programme held a conference today about the importance of citizens to get the seasonal influenza vaccination. In attendance were many of the world's leading journalists, Gregory Hartl - Project Director of Communications for WHO, and FluTrackers.com.
Dr. Fukuda stressed that seasonal influenza is a disease that kills approximately 500,000 persons per year in the world. It is the most common form of influenza and the most preventable. This year's vaccine for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is A/Brisbane/59/2007/H1N1 like virus, and A/Brisbane/10/2007/H3N2 like virus, and B/Florida/4/2006 like virus.
It is important to get vaccinated, he said, because:
1) Influenza is found everywhere.
2) It can affect any age group.
3) It speads easily.
4) It can "cause serious health and economic problems".
5) "Large numbers can be hospitalized and large numbers die every year".
6) Several groups are highly vulnerable: elderly, very young, those with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic disease.
7) Pregnant women may also be at increased risk.
While we "can not predict what the season will be like", it is important to get the seasonal influenza vaccine, he added.
Dr. Fukuda also mentioned the "unusual phenomena" regarding the increased oseltamivir resistance seen in seasonal influenza. He remarked that "the resistance pattern seems to be independent of the use of the drug" by a particular country.
For instance, Norway has a low usage rate of oseltamivir but the resistance to this drug in Norway is very high at approximately 68% of the samples tested. "(We are) often taken by surprise by what the influenza viruses do", he said.
Dr. Fukuda also asked for all health care workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine "to help reduce risk of patients getting worse". He said that "vaccines are the single best tool" and urged people to get the immunization for "you, individuals, and people around you - the people you care most about".
Sharon Sanders
FluTrackers.com
Geneva, Switzerland - Dr Keiji Fukuda, Head of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Influenza Programme held a conference today about the importance of citizens to get the seasonal influenza vaccination. In attendance were many of the world's leading journalists, Gregory Hartl - Project Director of Communications for WHO, and FluTrackers.com.
Dr. Fukuda stressed that seasonal influenza is a disease that kills approximately 500,000 persons per year in the world. It is the most common form of influenza and the most preventable. This year's vaccine for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres is A/Brisbane/59/2007/H1N1 like virus, and A/Brisbane/10/2007/H3N2 like virus, and B/Florida/4/2006 like virus.
It is important to get vaccinated, he said, because:
1) Influenza is found everywhere.
2) It can affect any age group.
3) It speads easily.
4) It can "cause serious health and economic problems".
5) "Large numbers can be hospitalized and large numbers die every year".
6) Several groups are highly vulnerable: elderly, very young, those with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic disease.
7) Pregnant women may also be at increased risk.
While we "can not predict what the season will be like", it is important to get the seasonal influenza vaccine, he added.
Dr. Fukuda also mentioned the "unusual phenomena" regarding the increased oseltamivir resistance seen in seasonal influenza. He remarked that "the resistance pattern seems to be independent of the use of the drug" by a particular country.
For instance, Norway has a low usage rate of oseltamivir but the resistance to this drug in Norway is very high at approximately 68% of the samples tested. "(We are) often taken by surprise by what the influenza viruses do", he said.
Dr. Fukuda also asked for all health care workers to get the seasonal flu vaccine "to help reduce risk of patients getting worse". He said that "vaccines are the single best tool" and urged people to get the immunization for "you, individuals, and people around you - the people you care most about".
Sharon Sanders
FluTrackers.com
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