Flu virus makes its seasonal debut

Now’s the time to get vaccinated, public health authorities say

The first few cases of flu are starting to crop up in the Capital Region, and public health experts say there’s reason to believe we could be in for a rough season.

That’s because the flu season that just ended in Australia was a bad one, and Australia sometimes serves as an indicator of what’s to come in the U. S. Not only were there more flu- related deaths in Australia than is typical, but the season also got under way two months earlier than usual.

“We typically look to see how Australia fares when making predictions about our season because their strains usually make their way up to the U. S.,” said Rebecca O’donnell, director of epidemiology at Albany Medical Center Hospital. “But the flu virus is smart. It can change quickly. And it’s unpredictable.”

Brad Hutton, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Health’s Office of Public Health, also cautioned against putting too much stock in Australia’s flu experience.

“There are seasons when it’s a very good harbinger and there are seasons when it’s not,” he said.

Predictions aside, public health authorities say the time is now to start thinking about flu prevention and vaccination.

Flu season in the U. S. starts around October and lasts through May. It takes two weeks for infection- fighting antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination.

While many may think of flu as just a bad cold, the respiratory virus is highly contagious and affects everyone differently. It can be particularly dangerous for young children, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. For these individuals, complications from the flu such as pneumonia or heart attack can lead to hospitalization or even death.

Two seasons ago, the U. S. experienced its

worst flu season in modern history, with more than 80,000 deaths.

More deaths could be prevented, Hutton said, if more people got vaccinated. New York’s adult vaccination rate for influenza is typically between 40 and 50 percent, he said.

“There’s still a lot of almost collective disappointment with the performance of flu vaccines,” Hutton said. “However, I think it gets an unfortunately unfair rap. It really is a very effective tool if given annually.”

The seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the three or four influenza viruses research indicates are most likely to spread and cause illness during the upcoming flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But because flu viruses mutate so quickly, the vaccines are not always as effective as intended. Effectiveness can range anywhere from 30 to 60 percent. Last season, the vaccine was just 29 percent effective, the CDC concluded.

Nevertheless, health officials caution that even when the vaccine does not prevent flu, evidence shows it helps lessen the severity and duration of the virus.

“You’re much less likely to be hospitalized or die,” Hutton said. “So even if it’s not successful in preventing flu, it still offers some protection.”

The state is preparing to issue its first weekly influenza surveillance report of the season on Oct. 17. New Yorkers can also track flu cases in their county or region using the state’s new online Flu Tracker.

Locally, there have only been sporadic reports of flu so far this season.

Saratoga Hospital reports that one patient who came into its emergency department last month tested positive for influenza A, the most common flu type found in humans.

Albany Memorial Hospital and Samaritan Hospital in Troy each had a case of the flu as well, said Michael Mullaney, spokesman for the St. Peter’s Health Partners health system.

Two laboratory- confirmed cases of influenza B — a less common flu type that tends to increase later in the season — have been reported in Albany County through the state’s Electronic Clinical Laboratory Reporting System, said Elizabeth Lewis, epidemiologist for the county Health Department.

Flu shots are widely available this time of year at pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Many agencies and employers will also sponsor clinics, providing the shot for free or at discounted rates.