Influenza vaccine, Avian Flu, Bird Flu, H5N1 virus, Influenza Pandemic, Flu Clinic, Tampa, Florida -- Travel Clinic, Tampa, FL, Travel Medicine & Immunizations, Certified Yellow Fever Clinic, Florida

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Both the flu and a cold are viral infections and can cause symptoms such as coughing and sore throat. A cold is a minor viral infection of the nose and throat. The flu, however, is usually more severe, with higher fevers and the addition of aches and pains.

Signs & Symptoms	Flu	Cold
Onset	Sudden	Gradual
Fever	Charactistic, high (over 101 F); lasting 3-4 days	Rare
Cough	Dry; can become severe	Hacking
Headache	Prominent	Rare
Myalgia (muscle aches and pains)	Usual; often severe	Slight
Tiredness and weakness	Can last up to 2 to 3 weeks	Very mild
Extreme exhaustion	Early and prominent	Never
Chest discomfort	Common	Mild to moderate
Stuffy nose	Sometimes	Common
Sneezing	Sometimes	Usual
Sore throat	Sometimes	Common

2007-2008 Influenza Virus Vaccine
It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2007-8 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

— an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus;
— an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus^a ;
— a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
^a A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005

For more information

Important information: Avian Flu, Bird Flu, H5N1 virus

Highlights:

There is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time
It is important to remember that H5N1 avian influenza is almost exclusively a disease of birds. The H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the U.S..
Should the H5N1 virus appear in the U.S., it does not mean the start of a pandemic
An additional point to remember is that the next influenza pandemic could be substantially less severe than what occured in 1918. For example, the influenza pandmics of 1968/69 caused so much less illness and death than did the 1918/19 pandemic that many Americans at that time did not distinguish them from seasonal influenza and were unaware that a pandemic was underway.
There are steps individuals, families and communities can take to prepare. You can keep a supply of food and medicines on hand in case you have to stay home, you can practice good public health measures like frequent hand washing and staying home when sick. There is good information available on www.pandemicflu.gov.
While the H5N1 virus has not yet appeared in the US, and there is no influenza pandemic in the world at this time, it is important for all Americans to be informed about this potential public health threat and some of the steps individual Americans can take to protect themselves and their families in the event of a pandemic.