Influenza

Disease Risk Areas
Worldwide with epidemics occuring most years during cooler or winter months. (November to May in Northern hemisphere and June to October in Southern hemisphere.

Transmission
Spread is normally via contact with infected respiratory secretions.

Recommendations for travellers
The vaccine is normally recommended annually for the elderly and others in 'risk' categories - see below.
Travellers should consider vaccination during the influenza season but must remember that this is normally during British winter months for the northern hemisphere and British summer months for the southern hemisphere.

Risk categories
Those more likley to have complications of influenza or in 'crucial' care roles such as nurses and doctors. Thgose more likely to have complications include those with chronic respiratory, heart, or renal disease; asthma; diabetes mellitus; immunocompromise.

Vaccination

Always confirm details with manufacturer's literature
Type: Inactivated
Dosage: 0.5mls (13yrs +), 0.25ml(6mth-35mth, 0.5ml (3yr-12yr)
Route: I/M
(Children under 13 years should receive 2 doses 4-6 weeks apart if receiving vaccination for the 1st time.)
Refer to data sheet for variations.
Boosters: Yearly

Side effects
Usually mild and most commonly local redness and swelling at injection site. Rarely fever, malaise, myalgia and more rarely urticaria, angioneurotic oedema, bronchospasm and anaphylaxis.

Contraindications
Serious hypersensitivity to eggs. Serious reaction to previous dose of vaccine.

Notes
WHO Recommendations for vaccine 1999-2000
The WHO has announced the composition for the influenza vaccine for the 1999-2000 season. THIS REFERS TO NORTHERN HEMISPHERE COUNTRIES ONLY. A second recommendation will be made in September 1999 relating to vaccines that will be foe use in the southern hemisphere.
The three components to be included are A/Sydney/5/97(H3N2) like strain, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1) like strain, B/Beijing/184/93 like strain or B/Shangdong/7/97-like strain.