What is the most dangerous complication of the flu in older adults?
Older adults are at higher risk of serious flu and flu-related complications including pneumonia and hospitalization. But there are also other risks that may not be as obvious—flu increases the risk of heart attack by 3-5 times and stroke by 2-3 times in the first 2 weeks of infection for those 65+.
How effective is the flu vaccine in the elderly?
Flu vaccines also have reduced the risk of flu hospitalization among adults age 65 and older by 54% against A(H1N1) viruses and by 31% against influenza B viruses on average (2). However, protection against influenza A(H3N2) flu viruses has been less consistent.
What is the best flu shot for seniors 2020?
Like other flu vaccines, Fluzone High-Dose is made up of the three flu strains most likely to cause the flu during the upcoming flu season. A new vaccine called Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent that is made up of four flu strains has been approved for people age 65 and older.
How long does the senior flu shot last?
How long does immunity from influenza vaccine last? Protection from influenza vaccine is thought to persist for at least 6 months. Protection declines over time because of waning antibody levels and because of changes in circulating influenza viruses from year to year.
What is the mortality rate of the flu in the elderly?
In recent years, for example, it’s estimated that between 70 percent and 85 percent of seasonal flu-related deaths have occurred in people 65 years and older, and between 50 percent and 70 percent of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations have occurred among people in this age group.
What flu is going around in 2020?
Influenza B Strain Dominating Early in the 2020 Flu Season.
How long is flu contagious?
Period of Contagiousness People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins. Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.
How long does the 2020 flu last?
How Long Does It Last? Most symptoms get better after about 5 days. But sometimes they can last for a week or more. Even if your fever and aches are gone, you can still feel drained for a few weeks.
How do you kill the flu virus?
Heat above 167 F (water boils at 212 F) will kill the flu virus. Common household cleaning products containing any chlorine; hydrogen peroxide; soap or detergent; iodine-based antiseptics; or alcohols will kill the flu virus.
Does Lysol spray kill flu?
Spray disinfectants, like Lysol Disinfecting Spray, kill up to 99.9 percent of fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Simply spray the possibly infected areas, like doorknobs and furniture, and let the spray do its work, making for easy cleaning.
Can hand sanitizer kill flu virus?
When applied to dried flu germs, hand sanitizer killed the virus in just eight seconds. The researchers, from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, reason that thick, goopy mucus acts as a shield around the virus, preventing the hand sanitizer from fully penetrating it.
Are you still contagious with the flu if you have no fever?
Stay away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick. Continue to cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands even after you return to work. It is important to know that even if you don’t have a fever, you may have flu and be contagious if you get flu symptoms.
How do I disinfect my house after the flu?
Another option is to disinfect hard surfaces by wiping or mopping with a solution of 1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water. Allow the solution to be in contact with the surface for at least five minutes. Rinse and air-dry. Take care not to spread germs unintentionally.
How long do flu germs last in the air?
Flu viruses in droplets can survive in the air for several hours, and lower temperatures increase their survival rate, according to the National Health Service of England. NHS officials say flu viruses don’t last long on hands, falling to low levels within about five minutes.
How do you disinfect furniture after the flu?
Clean all hard surfaces with disinfectant: desk, chair, bed frame, garbage can, and furniture knobs and handles. Completely strip the mattress and launder all bedding—sheets, pillowcases, duvet, and mattress pad—in your washing machine on the hot water setting with sanitizing laundry soap.
How long do flu germs live on fabric?
Flu germs live 8 to 12 hours on fabric The influenza virus tends to live for a shorter time on fabric than hard surfaces, Reynolds says. Scientists do not have a definite explanation for why, but it may be because fabrics are more porous. Studies show that the flu virus can live for only 8 to 12 hours on fabric.
Does washing clothes kill flu virus?
(Temperatures between 167-212° F, according to the CDC, are required to kill the flu virus — so be careful!) Launder all sheets, blankets, and clothing that have been touched on high heat, using detergent, and then dry them on high heat as well (and don’t “hug” them in-between loads!).