CDC Says 'Take 3' Actions to Fight the Flu is an article written by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on September 29th, 2010. The article gives advice on how to protect oneself from contracting Influenza this winter.
The article begins by stating the importance of protecting oneself from the flu this winter, and describes briefly the intensity of the flu last year. Three different preventative actions are discussed and advised: one should receive the flu vaccination, take everyday sanitation seriously to prevent the spread of germs, and take flu anti-viral drugs if advised to do so by a doctor. The article goes into detail about each of these suggestions and explains why they are important to not only oneself but society and preventing the spread of disease.
Vaccination is suggested as the most important step toward preventing the flu, and conditions under which the vaccination should be given are described. (Children under six years of age are too young, but older children, pregnant women, etc are very susceptible to the flu and should definitely be vaccinated.)
The article opens with, "In 2009–2010, a new and very different flu virus (called 2009 H1N1) spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. Flu is unpredictable, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the 2009 H1N1 virus to spread this upcoming season along with other seasonal flu viruses." This goes to show that regardless of what happened last year or what will happen in the future, the flu is unpredictable and can be very dangerous and fatal. It is therefore necessary to take as many precautionary actions as possible to prevent the spread of influenza.
This article really interested me because it's really important that public health organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention take action and write articles to inform people of what to do to prevent the spread of influenza. After last year's outbreak of H1N1 flu, many people were probably very worried that this year something similar would occur. I think that even this short article alone really provides a solid list of tips for preventing the contraction and spread of the flu.
As we learned in class, vaccinations are the most effective way to prevent the contraction of an infectious disease, so when one is available it's crucial that people who are eligible to receive the vaccination do indeed receive it. The preventative measures listed in this article are very easy and highlighted nicely as a guide to a healthy winter.
I was drawn to this article because I recently recieved a flu shot last week. My doctor said that she had seen many children in the office with the flu so this article really makes sense. I never really thought of the flu being that deadly, I always thought of it as a strong cold. It's very serious since many people die from it. It says in the article that children under 6 are too young to get the shot, which might be harmful to them since their immune system hasn't been exposed to as many viruses and bacteria as ours has. I wonder if there is some sort of nasal spray so that they could get vaccinated. Otherwise, they could contract it and get seriously ill.
ReplyDeleteI always get my shots. Always. So many people are out with the flu all of a sudden. Like Lindsay said, it's hard to believe that we can actually die from the flu. Our technological advances have given us the illusion that we are invincible, but nature will always be strong. I liked the article. It's good that people are warning other people to protect themselves, because it is necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think that this was a very good article choice, considering how many of us are hit with the flu right here in Reading this year. In fact, I had a case of it just a few weeks ago. Although I'm not one to talk (considering I never get a flue shot), I think that it is very important to be protected against the flu. Even if it doesn't like it can be as dangerous as a disease like smallpox, it can still be very dangerous. There have been many people who have died from the flu. So I say that if we have the opportunity to stay protected against a disease that can kill, we should take it.
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