Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Seniors coping better with flu
Last updated 05:00 21/07/2009
Early evidence suggests people over 60 who were exposed to the 1957 flu epidemic may have some protection against the swine flu.
Clinical virologist for Canterbury Health Dr Lance Jennings said yesterday epidemiology evidence suggested those over 60 were not being affected by the H1N1 virus to the same extent as the younger generation.
"Where people have been exposed to the flu virus of 1957 and before, they appear to have some protection," Dr Jennings said.
There had been no scientific evidence to prove protection until a public report released last week by the United States University of Wisconsin's Nature report, which investigated neutralising antibodies to the swine flu virus.
The report found that people born in 1920, before the start of the major flu pandemic, had some protection to the H1N1 virus, Dr Jennings said.
Those born in 1920 or who were exposed to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, were found to have some residual neutralising antibodies to swine flu.
"The epidemiological suggestion is that people over 60 have some form of natural protection (to swine flu) but we can't call it immunity," Dr Jennings said.
By far the "greatest burden" of swine flu so far had fallen on under-19s.
However, the older generation should not be complacent.
"We've seen different phases of this epidemic and we may well see it starting to infect other sub-groups and older people we're possibly only halfway through this epidemic, with another six weeks to go, and older people should still be very careful," Dr Jennings said.
Typically, people took a week to recover and should wait at least 24 hours before attempting normal activities, including exercise, or they could relapse.
With schools reopening this week after the second-term holiday, the Health Ministry was concerned the virus could become rampant.
"Schools are always a mixing vessel for respiratory viruses and their transmission we may see increasing absenteeism rates as children take it home and parents become exposed as well," Dr Jennings said.
He also warned that a measles outbreak was on its way south with 50 confirmed cases in Canterbury, and parents should not confuse some of the similar symptoms of swine flu with measles. Both could present with a fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis.
Nationally, only about 82 per cent of the population had immunity to measles, which was not good enough to protect against an outbreak, Dr Jennings said.
Many Christchurch families had just been south for skiing holidays in Queenstown and Wanaka, so parents and pregnant women should beware.
Young children with measles could be susceptible to pneumonia, and anyone exposed to measles could still be vaccinated for up to 72 hours, he said.
Meanwhile, Otago Southland medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell said medical centres were coping with the swine flu out-break.
"We're seeing a heavy age bias the picture we're seeing is children aged through to those in their early 20s."
Nationally, more than 80 per cent of those contracting swine flu were aged under 50, Dr Bell said.
- By SUE FEA/Southland Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2611362/Seniors-coping-better-with-flu
Last updated 05:00 21/07/2009
Early evidence suggests people over 60 who were exposed to the 1957 flu epidemic may have some protection against the swine flu.
Clinical virologist for Canterbury Health Dr Lance Jennings said yesterday epidemiology evidence suggested those over 60 were not being affected by the H1N1 virus to the same extent as the younger generation.
"Where people have been exposed to the flu virus of 1957 and before, they appear to have some protection," Dr Jennings said.
There had been no scientific evidence to prove protection until a public report released last week by the United States University of Wisconsin's Nature report, which investigated neutralising antibodies to the swine flu virus.
The report found that people born in 1920, before the start of the major flu pandemic, had some protection to the H1N1 virus, Dr Jennings said.
Those born in 1920 or who were exposed to the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918, were found to have some residual neutralising antibodies to swine flu.
"The epidemiological suggestion is that people over 60 have some form of natural protection (to swine flu) but we can't call it immunity," Dr Jennings said.
By far the "greatest burden" of swine flu so far had fallen on under-19s.
However, the older generation should not be complacent.
"We've seen different phases of this epidemic and we may well see it starting to infect other sub-groups and older people we're possibly only halfway through this epidemic, with another six weeks to go, and older people should still be very careful," Dr Jennings said.
Typically, people took a week to recover and should wait at least 24 hours before attempting normal activities, including exercise, or they could relapse.
With schools reopening this week after the second-term holiday, the Health Ministry was concerned the virus could become rampant.
"Schools are always a mixing vessel for respiratory viruses and their transmission we may see increasing absenteeism rates as children take it home and parents become exposed as well," Dr Jennings said.
He also warned that a measles outbreak was on its way south with 50 confirmed cases in Canterbury, and parents should not confuse some of the similar symptoms of swine flu with measles. Both could present with a fever, runny nose and conjunctivitis.
Nationally, only about 82 per cent of the population had immunity to measles, which was not good enough to protect against an outbreak, Dr Jennings said.
Many Christchurch families had just been south for skiing holidays in Queenstown and Wanaka, so parents and pregnant women should beware.
Young children with measles could be susceptible to pneumonia, and anyone exposed to measles could still be vaccinated for up to 72 hours, he said.
Meanwhile, Otago Southland medical officer of health Dr Derek Bell said medical centres were coping with the swine flu out-break.
"We're seeing a heavy age bias the picture we're seeing is children aged through to those in their early 20s."
Nationally, more than 80 per cent of those contracting swine flu were aged under 50, Dr Bell said.
- By SUE FEA/Southland Times http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/2611362/Seniors-coping-better-with-flu