NLM Director’s Comments Transcript
Flu Season Insights: 02/10/2014

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Greetings from the National Library of Medicine and MedlinePlus.gov

Regards to all our listeners!

I'm Rob Logan, Ph.D. senior staff National Library of Medicine for Donald Lindberg, M.D, the Director of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Here is what's new this week in MedlinePlus.

A recent perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine provides insights about why Americans are susceptible to the flu this winter as well as the effectiveness of current flu vaccines.

Absent the public’s exposure to a new flu virus strain, Dr. Uyeki writes and we quote): ‘… susceptibility (to the flu) could be due to the presence of a substantial number of previously uninfected and unvaccinated persons or to waning immunity from prior infection’ (end of quote).

Regarding waning immunity, Dr. Uyeki notes the flu vaccine’s effectiveness varies (and we quote): ‘depending on several factors, including the recipient’s age and immune response and the match between circulating virus strains and vaccine strains’ (end of quote).

While Dr. Uyeki explains the flu vaccine is often less effective among elderly Americans, he underscores the vaccine is ‘moderately effective’ for most adults and children.

Dr. Uyeki adds the current flu virus strains found across the country are well matched to the flu vaccine. As a result, he writes (and we quote): ‘unvaccinated persons should be vaccinated as soon as possible’ (end of quote).

Dr. Uyeki explains the groups at highest risk from severe illnesses associated with the flu include: children under two years old, elderly Americans, pregnant women, nursing home residents, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives. He adds persons with chronic medical conditions, such as heart and lung problems, high blood pressure, morbid obesity, as well as blood and neurological disorders, experience a higher risk of severe illness from the flu.

Dr. Uyeki outlines a number of clinical options physicians can use to treat flu patients. While we will not detail these options here, the editorial strongly suggests there are widely available flu medications and treatments to assist patients. To optimally help adults and children who suffer from the flu, Dr. Uyeki emphasizes patients need to receive treatment early, or in the first couple of days after the flu’s onset.

Dr. Uyeki concludes (and we quote) ‘We need more effective influenza vaccines and better therapies especially for severely ill patients. However, there is much we can do with available interventions to reduce the spread and burden of influenza this season – and it’s not too late to get vaccinated’ (end of quote).

Meanwhile, you can learn about the flu vaccine and this year’s flu outbreak (from a website provided by the CDC) in the ‘overviews’ section of MedlinePlus.gov’sflu health topic page. To find the latest information about the extent and location of this year’s flu outbreak, click on ‘flu activity and surveillance’ found on the left hand side of the CDC website’s home page.

An overview of medications to treat the flu (also from a website provided by the CDC) is found within the ‘treatment’ section of MedlinePlus.gov’s flu health topic page.

A website from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (found in the ‘diagnosis/symptoms’ section of MedlinePlus.gov’s flu health topic page) helps you distinguish whether current symptoms are a cold or the flu.

MedlinePlus.gov’s flu health topic page also provides links to the latest pertinent journal research articles, which are available in the ‘journal articles’ section. Links to clinical trials that may be occurring in your area are available in the ‘clinical trials’ section. You can sign up to receive updates about the flu as they become available on MedlinePlus.gov.

To find MedlinePlus.gov’s flu health topic page type ‘flu’ in the search box on MedlinePlus.gov’s home page. Then, click on ‘flu (National Library of Medicine).’ MedlinePlus.gov also has health topic pages on H1N1 (swine) flu and the common cold.

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Please email Dr. Lindberg anytime at: NLMDirector@nlm.nih.gov

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A disclaimer — the information presented in this program should not replace the medical advice of your physician. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any disease without first consulting with your physician or other health care provider.

I want to take the opportunity to wish you a very happy holiday season and a healthy New Year. The National Library of Medicine and the ‘Director’s Comments’ podcast staff, including Dr. Lindberg, appreciate your interest and company — and we hope to find new ways to serve you in 2014.