Birmingham, Alabama – Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) warn people that influenza virus remains the biggest threat, despite the alarming and attention-garnering cases of Ebola and Enterovirus D68 statewide, saying that people can be protected from flu among any viruses with only a simple step.
UAB’s Division of General Internal Medicine associate professor, and lead physician at the UAB’s Medicine Moody Clinic, Doctor Stephen Russell said the 2014 medical concerns strengthen the necessity for population health.
Russell stated that the United States public health system is very important, and that patients should be educated on how they could protect themselves against diseases that could become quite serious. Patients should be offered with an urgent care near me relief or protection, and while influenza virus remains the biggest threat, getting a flu vaccine is the most important thing they can do.
An estimated 5% to 20% of the entire American population gets the flu virus each year, with 200,000 patients hospitalized due to flu-related complications. The data were provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adding that between 3,000 and 49,000 people die each year between the years 1976 and 2006. These deaths were all associated with flu. Thus, the increasing and alarming flu-related deaths need urgent care and attention similar to the current Ebola outbreak.
Russell pointed out that many of these should have been prevented only if the patients were able to get their flu shots or spray in protecting themselves and other people from the spread of influenza virus. Flu vaccines or spray is available in hospitals, urgent care clinics, emergency departments, and other health facilities.
The health expert also emphasized that now is the best time to get the vaccine as influenza virus remains the biggest threat this season, while its peak will likely occur from December to February.
The CDC highly recommends everyone to get the flu vaccine, those 6 months old and above. Additionally, individuals who are 65 and older, the caregivers, expectant mothers, and patients with certain health conditions are strongly encouraged to get the vaccine. People with medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and chronic lung diseases are also urged by the CDC to get themselves vaccinated.
Russell said the vaccine will not cause or create sickness as it a killed virus, encouraging people to get vaccinated every year. Flu vaccine is widely accessible through an urgent care clinic, hospital, and any medical facility as influenza virus remains the biggest threat; the vaccine has also become available in a nasal spray form, especially for those who are nervous about the shots.
