What’s the reason for flu season?
WHEEZY’S TAKEOVER WHEN: 4 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Wheezy’s Grill & Sports Bar, 11732 S. Fortuna Road GOING ON: The Yuma Writers Consortium is going to the 2020 Tucson Festival of Books to network and market books; proceeds from takeover will be used to help cover expenses
SOCKS FOR SENIORS DRIVE WHEN: Runs through Dec. 13 WHERE: Drop-off box at Round Table Pizza, 2544 W. 16th St. GOING ON: Yuma Camera Club will have their annual ‘Socks for Seniors’ drive; fun, colorful socks delivered to local nursing homes; also collecting heavy work socks for Crossroads Mission INFO: Contact yumacameraclub@ gmail.com
CRIMINAL FUNDRAISER WHEN: Orders taken today through Dec. 30 GOING ON: The Yuma Criminal Band Boosters will sell a variety of Criminal items including the Class of 2019 Criminal glass mugs (while supplies last), Crim wear and Crim Santa hats COST: Mugs $5; all other items vary in price INFO: Contact Lisa at 928-941-1812
CHRISTMAS LIGHTING WHEN: Dusk to 10 p.m. today through Christmas Day WHERE: 55th Street in the Foothills, between Montana and El Camino del Diablo GOING ON: Annual Christmas lighting on 55th Street; from Foothills Blvd. south to 54th Street, right onto Montana, left onto 55th Street; drive carefully, watch for large volumes of traffic and pedestrians; no donations accepted
FOOD FOR FINES WHEN: 9 a.m. today through 5 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Yuma County Libraries GOING ON: One dollar in overdue fines will be cleared for every 10 oz. (or larger) can of food that is donated during the 30th annual Food for Fines program; only labeled cans accepted, no glass jars, dented or expired cans; all cans of food will be donated to the Yuma Community Food Bank INFO: Call 928-373-6492
PUBLIC MEETING WHEN: 9 to 11 a.m. WHERE: Main Library, 2951 S. 21st Drive GOING ON: The Yuma County Local Emergency Planning committee will have a public meeting
MEET THE WEATHERMAN WHEN: 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Wellton Library, 28790 San Jose Ave. GOING ON: Marvin Percha, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix will talk about the agency and discuss storm safety, specifically during Arizona’s monsoon season; free
FILMED IN YUMA WHEN: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Main Library, 2951 S. 21st Drive GOING ON: Discover Yuma’s movie history at the library; learn about filming locations, find out which actors and directors have worked in Yuma and hear some behind-thescenes stories; free
FREEDOM LIBRARY FUNDRAISER WHEN: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. WHERE: Applebee’s Restaurant, 3101 S. 4th Ave. GOING ON: Bring your family and friends to Applebee’s and help the Freedom Library help others in their education; Applebee’s will donate a portion of all sales to the Freedom Library education and scholarship program INFO: A minimum of 20 RSVPs required; go to https://www.
PLACING CROSSES WHEN: 9 a.m. WHERE: Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. 1st Ave. GOING ON: Wreaths Across America and the Rio Colorado Republican Women’s Club will be placing crosses on the graves of veterans at Desert Lawn
CHRISTMAS ARTS, CRAFT SHOW WHEN: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. WHERE: Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St. GOING ON: New, returning vendors will display their arts and crafts; Sons of Norway’s Sola Lodge will hold a bake sale as part of the show; hosted by Yuma Artisans and Crafters INFO: 928-919-6903 or 928-276-0168
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. WHERE: Johnson Mortuary, 1415 S. 1st Ave. GOING ON: You and your family are invited to a special holiday memorial service to remember your loved ones; light refreshments served, performance by the Cibola High School Choir INFO: Johnson Mortuary, 928-7824384; Funeraria del Angel Kammann, 928-344-0000
IT’S A CHRISTMAS BALL WHEN: Doors open 5 p.m.; ball 5:30 to 10 p.m. WHERE: Yuma Civic Center, 1440 W. Desert Hills Drive GOING ON: Christmas comes to live at the civic center; semi-formal evening will include buffet dinner, candy and dessert bars, water, iced tea and coffee, live band for dancing and photo booth; cash bar available, event is for those 18 and older; limited seating available, deadline to purchase tickets Dec. 11 COST: $35 per person, $65 couple, $300 for table of 10 INFO: Tickets at YumaShowTickets. com
THE NUTCRACKER WHEN: 7 p.m. WHERE: Yuma High School, Snider Auditorium, 400 S. 6th Ave. GOING ON: Ballet Yuma performance of the Nutcracker; tickets also available at door one hour prior to each performance COST: $20, $25; $4 off seniors 65 and over and children under 12 INFO: Tickets available at Balletyuma. org or call Jenn Coleman at 928446-6770
‘TWAS THE FRIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS WHEN: 7 to 9:30 p.m. (last entry is 9 p.m., if no line) WHERE: 15485 S. Avenue 4E, corner of 4E and County 15-1/2 GOING ON: Celebrate Christmas with a colorfully lit, spooky and playful environment decorated with all things Christmas; many favorite holiday characters will be present; warm clothes, closed toe shoes highly recommended; proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity COST: General admission $8 at door per person for all ages; fast pass front of line at door is additional $3 per person
REINDEER ROUNDUP WHEN: On-site registration/bib pickup 7 to 8 a.m.; race 8:15 a.m. WHERE: West Wetlands Park, 282 N. 12th Ave. GOING ON: 5K/10K fun run/walk; wear your favorite festive attire and see if you spot a jolly fellow in a red suit COST: Pre-registration $17, deadline 1 p.m. Dec. 12; on-site fee $26 INFO: Go to Yumaaz.gov/parksandrec
COOKIE WALK WHEN: 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Calvary Lutheran Church, 711 7th Ave. GOING ON: Annual cookie walk will have dozens of cookies to choose from; proceeds to support Crossroads Mission, Yuma Community Food Bank and Precious Treasures COST: $4 dozen
CHRISTMAS ARTS, CRAFT SHOW (See Dec. 13)
SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE WHEN: 10 a.m. WHERE: Main Library, 2951 S. 21st Drive GOING ON: Topics include how/when to start retirement benefits, other benefits offered by Social Security, original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage, how parts A, B and D work with each Medicare option; free
STUFF THE STOCKING WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon WHERE: Yuma Senior Living, 2600 S. 4th Ave. GOING ON: Children ages 12 and under are invited to the 1st annual stuff the stocking event; first 300 children will receive a free stocking to stop by various vehicles and through the building to collect items to stuff their stocking INFO: 928-388-6858
WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY WHEN: 10 a.m. Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. 1st Ave.; noon Sunset Vista Cemetery, 11357 E. 40th St. GOING ON: Wreaths will be placed on the graves of veterans at Desert Lawn and Sunset Vista cemeteries; sponsored by Rio Colorado Republican Women’s Club
THE NUTCRACKER WHEN: 1 p.m., 5 p.m. (See Dec. 13)
REVOLT WRESTLING WHEN: Doors open 1 p.m.; matches 2 p.m. WHERE: Saddles of Joy, 2749 W. County 14th St. GOING ON: Revolt Wrestling, Yuma’s own professional wrestling showdown; bring chair, concession and vendors present COST: $10, children 13 and under free
DOROTHY YOUNG MEMORIAL ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. WHERE: Historic North End GOING ON: Watch elaborately decorated floats bring in the holiday spirit in this musical and bright light parade, which will end at the Colorado River State Historic Park INFO: Go to visityuma.com or call 928-783-0071
‘TWAS THE FRIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS (See Dec. 13)
DEAR DR. ROACH — Why is there a flu season instead of it being a year-round health challenge? And why do flu strains originate in Southeast Asia instead of, say, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.? — M.S.
ANSWER — Why there is a flu season is a bit of a mystery. Scientists used to think it was due to people staying indoors more during cold weather or because vitamin D levels are low. But research from tropical countries suggests that it has more to do with the combination of temperature and humidity that is optimal for influenza virus transmission, which likes cooler and drier conditions. In areas with very little variation during the year, there isn’t a strong predictable flu season. There remain sporadic cases of influenza even in North America throughout the year.
Influenza can grow and cause disease in the respiratory systems of not just humans, but also pigs and some birds, such as ducks and chickens. That’s why you hear about “swine flu” and “bird flu.” In some areas of Southeast Asia, all three may live under one roof, which allows the virus to more easily “swap” genetic material and mutate into different strains.
Some of the deadliest influenza epidemics have come when genetic information from one species is transmitted to another. In 1918, for example, it seems that the virus came from birds to humans. Five hundred million people became ill and 50 million died in that epidemic worldwide. The world mostly called it the “Spanish flu,” but the first cases known were actually in the United States — not Poughkeepsie, but at an Army camp in Kansas. Still, it appears it may have started in China, after all, a year previously.
Fear of another such epidemic (”pandemic” is used for such an enormous outbreak) keeps epidemiologists — the scientists who study diseases — awake at night, and drives the search for better vaccines to stay ahead of the constantly mutating influenza virus.
DR. ROACH WRITES — Many people, including a pharmaceutical company, have written to question my advice to give any flu vaccine, even those made with eggs, to a person with a history of egg allergy. The prescribing information for FluMist, for example, notes that those with a severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis, should not receive FluMist. However, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state: “People with a history of egg allergy of any severity should receive any licensed, recommended, and age-appropriate influenza vaccine.” They caution that people with a history of severe allergic reaction to egg — that is, any symptom other than hives, and including anaphylaxis — undergo vaccination by a medical provider who is able to recognize and manage severe allergic conditions.
Taken together, several studies have shown that, in over 4,000 individuals with egg allergy, including more than 500 people with a history of anaphylaxis, the flu shot was given with zero acute systemic allergic reactions. Because of this demonstrated safety of regular flu shots, I feel that making people search for the eggfree options (FluBlok and Flucelvax) is unnecessary and may cause some people to forgo vaccination.
Interestingly, last year the egg-free vaccines appeared to have about 20% better efficacy than vaccines made with eggs. My own hospital is distributing an egg-free vaccine this year, so that’s what I got for my vaccine — my 33rd consecutive annual flu shot.
The CDC also notes that “previous severe allergic reaction to flu vaccine, regardless of the component suspected of being responsible for the reaction, is a contraindication to future receipt of the vaccine.”
Finally, I want to reemphasize that FluMist is indicated only for those ages 2-49.
Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu or send mail to 628 Virginia Dr., Orlando, FL 32803.