1. FLU

2. Background Information on the Flu
• Influenza, as people call it flu is a very
high contagious infection of the
respiratory system. It affects throat,
the nose and large airways of the
lungs. Sometimes it is described by
severe fever, sore throat and muscle
aches.
• The flu usually occurs from the
months October to May and majority
of young kids receive the flu.
• The flu is caused by influenza
viruses which are divided into
three types.
• Influenza types A and B are
responsible for respiratory
illnesses which occur every
winter and are often associated
with higher hospitalization and
death rates.

3. Background Information on the Flu
(continued)
• Influenza and the common cold are both very contagious viral
infections of the respiratory system. The symptoms could be similar
between them but the flu is much worse. A cold may down your
mood a bit, but the flu can make you very ill at the very thought
process of if I should get out of bed or not.
• The flu causes much more hospitalization and deaths than the
common cold as it is a more severe infection.

4. Benefits and Drawbacks of Flu
Vaccination
Advantages of Vaccination
• To prevent spreading of illness
• To prevent missing any days of
school, work etc.
• To avoid discomfort of illness
• The immune system is aware of
the virus and produces
antibodies to help protect
Disadvantages of Vaccination
• Flu vaccination can not be received
by everyone
• Sometimes vaccination leads to
side effects such as low fever and
soreness.
• Some mercury, a neurotoxin is
contained in the vaccination,
thought to cause autism in children
• Vaccination can also possible cause
short term flu, more common in
nasal spray

5. The science behind the Flu
• The flu develops through high
fever reaching up to 40 degrees,
sore throat, chills and
headaches.
• Influenza viruses are found in
the throat and nose that can
spread fast.
• It comes from viral infections
which are infections that cause
pain your throat and head, there
are several symptoms to the flu.
• Flu outbreaks are classified as
epidemics, which means they occur
in a set geographical area, or
pandemics, which means a
worldwide occurrence.
• According to the CDC, winter flu
epidemics can cause illness 10 to
20% of the population in the Unites
States.
• They are associated with 200,000
hospitalizations and 39,000 +
deaths every year in US.

6. Flu Vaccination
• The flu shot is a vaccination
given with a needle, usually
in the arm. The seasonal flu
vaccine protects against the
flu viruses which research
indicates will be most
common during the winter
seasons.
• The flu vaccination is the
best medication to prevent
severe flu symptoms.
• Everyone who is at least 6
months of age should get
a flu vaccine this season.
• Flu vaccines cause
antibodies to develop in
the body about two weeks
after vaccination. These
antibodies provide
protection against
infection with the viruses
that are in the vaccine

7. Social, Economic, Political Issues about
The Flu
• When an influenza pandemic
emerges, all countries
worldwide will inevitably be
affected. However, the impact
may vary both between and
within countries.
• A recent study that estimated
the global impact of the
Spanish flu pandemic
indicated that a considerable
difference in mortality rates
was observed between highand low-income countries.
• During the flu seasons excess
deaths are attributed to
pneumonia or influenza are
much immensely higher in HIVpositive persons.
• HIV co-infection with a much
severe virus called the pandemic
virus could lead to more drastic
and painful infections which
supposedly may cause death
rates to grow higher.

8. Social, Economic, Political Issues about
The Flu (continued)
• Deaths are more associated in
countries that are newly
industrializing and developing
rather than developed countries
as the technology is built well
and they have vaccination to
prevent the flu.
• One study concluded that 96%
of the estimated 62 million
deaths in a future pandemic
would occur in developing
countries
• The impact of such high
mortality rates obviously
needs to be taken into
account when creating
pandemic preparedness
plans for developing
countries.

9. Canadian Data on the Flu
• This is the national flu
vaccination report card in 2011
it shows the provinces of Canada
and the grades they received in
the years.

10. Canadian Data on the Flu (continued)
• This is another picture that
shows a graph providing the
weeks of the year and the
number of confirmed cases of
Influenza A types, it also shows
the years ranging from 2004 to
2010 with different lines for
each of the years.