Many can expect flu, says health official

Press, 2 July 1985, Page 14

Many can expect flu, says health official

PA Wellington Many people can expect a doze of the flu epidemic sweeping New Zealand, says a health official. A considerable amount of the flu virus, identified in the medical laboratory as largely Influenza A Philippines, was still prevalent, said Dr John Clements, assistant director of the Health Promotion Division of the Health Department. “Because of its highly infectious and contagious nature, many people could expect a dose.”

Influenza was not a notifiable disease, he said, consequently no accurate figures were available on the number of people already affected.

He said immunisation was the only effective measure against influenze .. . “with the proviso that the injunction was for the right strain. “Other strains of influenze may exist, one could not be too dogmatic that this flu was only Philippines A. It may have started as that (or some other strain) and have modified.”

First reports of Philippines A were in April in the South Island, but there was

evidence of its existence here last year, he said.

Dr Clements said it was possible the strain was fatal in some cases, but it may be “the last straw in someone already ill.” It was also possible fatalities could have occurred last year. The department studied what was happening overseas towards the end of each summer and estimated what strain would be prevalent here the next winter, he said. Already strains A Philippines, A Chile and B. U.S.S.R. had been effectively controlled with a suitable vaccination, he said. Five deaths in the South Island have been attributed to the A-Philippines-variant which has worked its way north in recent weeks. However, the “Waikato Times” reported the Hamilton Medical Officer of Health, Dr Jim Penniket, as saying that news reports of the deaths may have overstated the present risk. “It should be remembered it’s inevitable that some old people will die of influenza this winter. It happens every winter,” Dr Penniket said.

Today, influenza was no big risk to fit and healthy people. When it claimed a life it was almost invariably a “last straw factor” in those already at risk.’ People most at risk were the frail elderly whose heart, lung, liver and kidney functions were already in trouble. People with chronic heart or lung disease including serious asthma were also at risk — they ranged from babis to elderly. “I’m not talking about asthmatics who suffer the occasional wheeze, but asthmatics on permanent regular medication.”

These people at risk should get the protection of influenze vaccination. It costs about $l2 at the doctor’s surgery, and builds the body’s resistance.

For others Dr Penniket recommended the welltested protection of lemons, oranges, grapefruit and honey.

“It’s not an old wive’s tale — it works. It was known long before science discovered vitamin C and proved citrus fruits are a good idea to ward off winter ills.”

They were the best source of vitamin C — much better than pills, he said.

“They’re ripe and falling on the ground all through the Waikato. They’re available at exactly the right time.” , Vitamin C was used in huge quantities fighting infection and fruit sugar from honey built into antibodies — ammunition against viruses and bacteria. Antibodies already in the system were “front-line troops” when influenze or other ills struck. “They hold the enemy back while new specialised antibodies are developed and produced to repel the invader. The body becomes a battlefield and the new specialised antibodies are its more modern and up-to-date weapons.” Dr Penniket said the enemy had tremendous ability to call up reinforcements — influenze viruses reproduced a new generation every eight minutes. “It’s worth loading up the body with oranges and lemons and honey before infection strikes,” he said.

The severity of an attack and recovery time depended on the body’s defences.

When infection struck the sensible thing to do was everything possible for rapid recovery. Citrus fruit.

honey, rest and keeping warm were the best answers. Whether a person elected to “soldier on” at work was a matter of individual decision — but they risked a heavier attack than necessary. The risk of spreading the virus to others was a minor factor, for by that time it was spread through the environment. An influenze victim was spreading the infection within 24 hours, probably by the time first symptoms were noticed. A single sneeze in an enclosed room could claim another victim 12 metres away, Dr Penniket said.

The victim remained infectious until the body destroyed the invader, usually marked by the body temperature returning to normal. Even at this point the throat and sinuses were still likely to be sore, damaged by the battle that had raged.

Pneumonia could become a secondary infection in a serious attack. If an influence victim had trouble breathing or had sharp pains in the chest, a doctor should be called.