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The flu explained by a doctor

Cases of influenza are on the rise and the flu season itself looks to be peaking early as a result, raising the annual question: Does the flu vaccine work?

BUFFALO, N.Y. — By now you've likely heard — or maybe experienced — that it's a bad flu season.

Cases of influenza are on the rise and the flu season itself looks to be peaking early as a result, raising the annual question: Does the flu vaccine work?

In a nutshell, yes, because it can only help, according to Dr. Thomas Russo, a researcher and infectious disease doctor with UBMD (Russo focuses more on research and patient care. He does not work for a pharmaceutical company). You protect yourself, those around you, or at the very least your flu symptoms should be less severe.

But he points out that one ever said the flu shot was perfect.

"We're working very hard to get a flu vaccine that gives us 100 percent protection against infection, but presently our vaccine really only affords about 40 percent protection from preventing infection.

If you do get the infection, however, it probably attenuates the course, or your symptoms will be less severe,” Dr. Russo said.

The most common flu vaccine protects against three common strains of influenza, and there’s plenty in supply for anyone still looking to get vaccinated.

In lesser supply is the quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against four strains.

So why is this season worse? This year's vaccine only protects about 30 percent of flu, and compounding that is the aggressive strain going around is a strong one.

And how exactly do you catch the flu?

“The flu is transmitted by droplets in the air, if you're in close proximity that someone is infected, then they should try to avoid you and you should try to avoid them, but the other is if those droplets gets on a surface and you touch it,” Dr. Russo said.

To prevent spreading your own sickness, he suggests sneezing into your inner elbow instead of a tissue that then lies around with germs on it.

Washing your hands may be a no-brainer, but did you know you should do it for 30 seconds? Sometimes we're a little quick with it.

And how do you know when you're no longer contagious?

"Probably the best guidance whether you're taking flu medication or not, is you'll be infectious for at least a day after your fever breaks,” Dr. Russo said. “So if you have no fever for at least a day, you're probably okay to go back to work.”

A person with a full-blown case of the flu may have that lasting fever and be out of work for 5-7 days. Dr. Russo says take the time you need for the sake of yourself and others.

Watch the entire hour-long interview, which covers topics such as allergies, Immunodeficiency issues, pneumonia, and children.

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