A Sneeze from the Wilds: Influenza

Seasonal influenza is a preventable infectious disease which mainly affects our respiratory system. Namely, it is caused by types of Influenza virus where there are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. Human influenza A and B viruses are the ones which can cause seasonal epidemics of disease. Influenza is predominantly spread via droplets and contacts, or indirectly via respiratory secretions on contact surfaces like hands and tissues.

Brief History (1918 Pandemic Influenza)

There is no direct evidence to know when Influenza first started. However, according to available records, Influenza may have been brought to the Americas as early as 1493, when an epidemic disease resembling influenza killed most of the population of the Antilles. The first convincing record of an influenza pandemic was chronicled in 1510.
However, the main event that actually draws public attention toward Influenza is the Spanish Flu. From 1918 to 1920, the Spanish flu pandemic became the most devastating influenza pandemic and one of the deadliest pandemics in history.
H1N1 began in the USA before spreading worldwide by soldiers during and after the First World War. By May, hundreds of thousands of soldiers travel across the Atlantic each month as they are deployed for World War I.
The second wave of flu emerges at Camp Devens, a United States Army training camp whereas the third wave of influenza occurred in the winter and spring of 1919, killing many more.
In short, The Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, the deadliest in history, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide (1/3 of the world’s population) and killed an estimated 20 million to 50 million victims.

In the Modern Era: 2009 Pandemic Influenza

In 2009, a new H1N1 influenza virus emerged, causing the first global flu pandemic in 40 years. 2009 H1N1 was first detected in the United States in April 2009. This virus was a unique combination of influenza virus genes never previously identified in either animals or people. Infection with this new influenza A virus (then referred to as ‘swine origin influenza A virus’) was first detected in a 10-year-old patient in California on April 15, 2009.

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA

Malaysia’s initiatives for influenza vaccine since the 2009 H1N1 breakout

The Malaysian government developed a National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan (NIPPP) which serves as a time bound guide for preparedness and response plan for influenza pandemic. It provides policy, advice and actions to ensure that resources are used most efficiently before, during and after a pandemic episode. Malaysia received vaccines via National Immunisation Programme which set a precedent that the citizens should be receiving annual flu shots.

Prevention besides vaccination :

The single best way to reduce the risk of seasonal flu and its potentially serious complications is to get vaccinated each year, but good health habits like avoiding people who are sick, covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses like flu. There also are flu antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent flu

Influenza Vaccination

Influenza vaccines are vaccines that protect against the four influenza viruses that are most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines are “flu shots” given through intramuscular administration but there also is also nasal spray flu vaccine available to the public
Vaccine types : inactivated and live attenuated (weakened)
The positive impact of influenza vaccine in reducing mortality, morbidity, hospitalization and disease burden and costs for countries are reduced. It is beneficial for elderly people and children. Higher protection noted among the influenza-vaccinated people with high risk of comorbidity (longer live age among vaccinated people noted in the study). The main benefit of the flu vaccine is that it can prevent you from becoming ill with the flu and may even help protect these higher-risk individuals from contracting the flu and potentially becoming very ill.

Statistics:The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that for the 2019–2020 flu season, the vaccination:

prevented 7.52 million illnesses in the US alone,105,000 hospitalizations and have reduced influenza-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations by 40 to 60%